Gemini has been a top priority for Google for over a year, and the company has repeatedly said publicly that it has entered the “Gemini era.” In 2025, Google will step up its efforts. At CES, TCL showed off Gemini integration coming to Google TV. And we’ve seen evidence elsewhere that Google is preparing to move its AI assistant to smart speakers and watches. Gemini will be a staple of future Android XR headsets, and Mercedes plans to equip some of its vehicles with Google’s Gemini-powered Automotive AI Agent this year. It looks like this year will be another big year for Google’s AI assistant.
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watches, headsets, cars, etc.
Gemini has been a long-awaited replacement for Google Assistant in Nest speakers and Wear OS, at least as an option. Gemini can now do most of the things Assistant can do (like set alarms, control smart home devices, and notify you about the weather), and even let your phone say “Hey Google” in a completely different way than your watch. Now you can also experience responding to. Alternatively, smart speakers can be difficult to use and frustrating for less enthusiastic users.
The first signs of Gemini becoming a smart speaker came in December, when several users in the UK noticed their Nest speakers responding to certain prompts with new, more realistic voices. I noticed. We haven’t seen much movement in the smart speaker space since then, but considering the other advancements Gemini is making this year, I’d be surprised if it doesn’t make its way to Nest speakers in earnest sometime in 2025 . The latest smart speaker, the Nest Audio, has been around for five years, so it’s possible we could get some new hardware this year in conjunction with the Gemini announcement (though we haven’t heard anything about that yet) ).
The spread of Gemini to other form factors is becoming more tangible. Code discovered last week in a beta version of Google apps calls Gemini a “wearable” assistant, and goes on to say, “Use the assistant on your watch to easily talk and get more done. It also says, “It will become.” Google AI,” hinting at features like Gemini Live.
It’s now fully confirmed that Gemini functionality will be coming to Google TV later this year, starting with the upcoming TCL set. At the CES demo, TCL emphasized that the TV experience will not be Gemini native, but rather a Gemini-integrated version of Google Assistant that will enable new features.
The distinction may seem a bit complicated, but Gemini’s enhanced Assistant experience lets you have a back-and-forth conversation about shows and movies. The presenter called out Jurassic World in his voice and then asked for similar content suitable for young children. , and Google TV suggested The Land Before Time. You can also ask sensitive questions, and Google TV will answer them both in natural language and with relevant YouTube videos from trusted sources.
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Android Auto code showed that Google was preparing support for Gemini Live integration into its car software in September. It’s not that simple, but it’s still worth noting. Google announced this week that Mercedes-Benz’s new MBUX in-car assistant is powered by Google’s Automotive AI Agent. The agent itself is partly built on top of Gemini.
Gemini plays a key role in Android XR, Google’s mixed reality platform. Android XR is expected to debut later this year on Samsung headsets, currently known as Project Moohan. Using a headset and smart glasses, you can ask Gemini questions about the world around you, similar to what we saw in Google’s impressive Project Astra demo last year. This is clearly a futuristic concept and I’m very interested to see how well it works in real life.
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Gemini guys, always
Google’s aggressive Gemini expansion isn’t just for new device types. The AI assistant has been available on a variety of phones for some time (including iPhones as of November), but there’s evidence that Samsung intends to integrate Gemini more deeply into its devices soon. I was seen.
Galaxy Unpacked is just a few days away, with a slew of Gemini-themed announcements planned, along with the unveiling of the Galaxy S25 series. Gemini is getting new integrations for Samsung apps, allowing users to take notes and create calendar events within Samsung’s stock apps, all through Gemini. Samsung offers a unique suite of AI features with Galaxy AI. It will be interesting to see how the company rotates
Geminis may soon get their own wake word, too. Leaked promotional materials highlighting the S25’s Gemini integration suggest that Samsung’s upcoming device may let you summon Google’s AI assistant by saying “Hey Gemini.”
Throughout 2024, Google prioritized bringing Gemini-based features to countless software products, including Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, and Messages. In 2025, the company appears to be taking a similar approach to getting Gemini running on new hardware. Like it or not, Gemini will be everywhere this year.