To replace Google Assistant with a more conversational AI assistant, Google has begun to implement Gemini on Google TV Streamer devices. The users will now also have access to the natural voice search, personalized viewing recommendations, and educational and smart home capabilities at the comfort of their TV. Its deployment makes it available to more than just the small number of smart TVs that had earlier been equipped with Gemini on TV. According to Google, all eligible streamers are going to get the update in the coming few weeks.
Gemini on TV comes to the Google TV Streamer.
Google affirmed that Gemini on TV has been replacing Google Assistant on the Google TV Streamer gadgets. The firm stated that the implementation will start today and will be done over the next weeks. Gemini on TV so far has worked on limited smart TVs that became early adopters already in September.
According to Google, the additional rollout enables almost any person to test the assistant. The only requirements for all users are an HDTV with an HDMI port, HDCP 1.3 and above, and an internet connection that is stable. The update is available in Google TV Streamer under the accounts and profiles section and the voice assistant. The device will appear in the list of options when it has become eligible as Gemini for TV. However, as Google claims, on turning it on, the user will be able to reach the assistant after pressing the microphone button on the remote. According to the company, the update applies to any person aged 18 and over.
The move is part of the overall scheme by Google to substitute Google Assistant in all its platforms. The company announced at the beginning of this year that Gemini will ultimately replace Siri as the main voice interface in phones, smart speakers, streaming devices, and Android Auto. Even more of those changes are currently observable in the product ecosystem.
Read also: Google Maps Is No Longer a Map—It’s a Personalized Travel Guide Powered by Gemini
Natural Voice Control and Recommendations.
Google claimed that Gemini on TV has more conversational capabilities than Google Assistant. The assistant does not need organized instructions. Rather, users are able to talk as usual and get a customized answer.
Google provided the examples that demonstrate the new capabilities in its announcement. A user is free to say, I like dramas, my wife likes comedies. What do we want to watch as a movie? Gemini interprets preferences and recommends appropriate movies depending on genres and viewing patterns. The other command lets a user query what happened at the end of the last season of Underlander, and a summary will be provided before beginning the new season.
It is also possible to search for trending videos and shows with the help of the assistant. One can just ask, What is the new hospital drama everyone is talking about? Gemini searches streaming sites and identifies similar content.
Google has highlighted that these skills are aimed at giving quicker results and lessening the number of clicks required to locate the content. Users do not need to flip through the menus and scroll through various apps; rather, they can receive suggestions in response to a single voice command.
In April this year, during The Android Show, Google affirmed that it was going to introduce Gemini to television. This direction was again pre-empted in the Made by Google event, where the company showed Gemini with Google TV and Android Auto support. Although Gemini on Android Auto is already beginning its release, the deployment of the Google TV Streamer is the new step.
Beyond Entertainment: Learning Assistance and Smart Home Controls.
Google indicated that Gemini on TV is not limited to streaming recommendations and movies. The users are able to pose general knowledge questions just as they would to Gemini on their phones. The assistant can access YouTube and present meaningful video results to engage in practical learning.
The company gave a particular example, and it states that a parent may inquire, explain why volcanoes erupt to my third grader. Gemini then locates a learning video at the appropriate level for a child. Users can also be taken through cooking instructions, DIY projects, or tutorials with the help of the assistant. Google stated that the assistant will extract step-by-step video to allow users to direct you through the TV screen.
There are also smart home controls installed. In users who have compatible home cameras connected to Google Home, Gemini can display live feeds on TV. And saying Show me the backyard cameras will show the most recent camera feed right on the TV. This unites Gemini to TV with the already available Google Homes that now feature Gemini to Home in smart speakers.
This release comes after a recent extension of Gemini in its product lineup by Google. A month ago, the company launched Gemini Early Access to Home. The update introduced a specialized variant of the assistant to the smart speakers of Google. The company is still moving forward with introducing Gemini into all the devices to enable users to communicate with the same assistant, no matter the platform.
Rollout Timeline and Eligible Devices
The update will not be provided to users in one go. According to Google, Gemini, the TV version, will be seen in the coming few weeks. In case the option is not visible yet, the device is on rollout. Gemini on TV was first released on several TCL smart TVs in September. Google had already stated that Gemini would be released later in the year on the 2025 Hisense U7, U8, and UX families, as well as the 2025 TCL QM7K, QM8K, and X11K families.
Besides the Google TV Streamer, Gemini to TV is offered on the Walmart Onn 4K Pro streaming box, as well. The company reported that the removal of Google Assistant had been happening since the beginning of the year. During the CES, Google announced that Gemini will be the main Google TV assistant in 2025. The announcement on Monday confirms the fact that rollout has begun.
The update marks the termination of the existence of Google Assistant on Google TV Streamer devices. When it is substituted by Gemini, users are no longer able to go back to the old assistant. Google termed the new integration as the vision statement of consolidating voice assistant features in its ecosystem. Gemini was placed by the company as an AI system that can be used on TV as a single system designed to address entertainment search, access to the smart home, and general questions.
Emmanuel brings over 3 years of professional writing experience focused on gadgets, consumer electronics, and tech reviews. His passion for technology and hands-on experience with the latest devices enables him to produce trustworthy, thorough, and up-to-date articles that help readers make informed buying decisions.
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