Google unveils Gemini AI-powered smart TV capable of natural voice interactions
Google continues to integrate its Gemini AI technology into various products, with the latest being Google TV. At CES 2025, Google introduced the newest iteration of the Google TV operating system, focusing on enhancing user experiences through Gemini AI integration.
Enhancements to Google TV
Two significant enhancements are on the horizon for Google TV users. Firstly, users will no longer need a remote control to interact with the smart TV using voice commands. Secondly, the introduction of 'AI summarization' or News Brief will provide users with concise news updates.
Upcoming Gemini AI Capabilities
Google is planning to roll out these new Gemini AI capabilities later this year, featuring various AI enhancements for both new and existing Google TV devices. These enhancements aim to facilitate natural voice interactions, enhance content search capabilities, and deepen integration with YouTube. A standout feature of the update will be the integration of Gemini AI with the Google Assistant voice-control system.
AI Interaction Feature
A key aspect of the update will be the ability for users to interact with the TV without needing a remote control, thanks to the incorporation of far-field microphones in the new devices. These microphones will enable users to give voice commands to the TV from a distance, similar to the functionality of Google Home. Additionally, the upcoming Google TVs will be equipped with proximity sensors to detect nearby objects and provide personalized widgets like weather updates and news briefs.
Gemini-Generated News Brief
Another feature introduced by Google is the Gemini-generated News Brief, which will offer users news summaries on requested topics by searching the internet and video headlines from popular YouTube channels. This builds upon Google's previous 'AI Overviews' feature launched in May 2024 for Google Search.
Additional Features and Partnerships
Google also announced additional features for the Gemini-powered Google TVs, including the ability to create customized artwork and control smart home devices in ambient mode. It remains to be seen how these features will be implemented on existing Google TV devices, as some may require hardware upgrades. Launch partners for these new features are reported to include Hisense and TCL.
Google's Gemini AI, with 42 million active users as of October 2024, is positioned as a response to OpenAI's ChatGPT, offering advanced AI capabilities for enhanced user interactions.
