Google TV Gets AI Upgrade with Gemini at CES 2025
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Google is bringing its advanced Gemini AI to third-party TVs running its Google TV operating system, significantly enhancing voice control capabilities, Bloomberg reports. This integration, previewed at CES 2025, marks a major step forward for Google TV's AI features.
The upgraded software will introduce more natural voice commands, improved content search, and deeper YouTube integration. Notably, the Gemini upgrade will enable conversational interactions with TVs, eliminating the need for users to constantly say "Hey Google" before each command. In a demonstration for reporters, Google showcased the ability to search for content in a more natural manner, such as requesting videos from a recent trip saved to a user's Google Photos account.
This update marks the first instance of Google integrating Gemini into third-party TVs using its operating system. This includes sets from major manufacturers like Sony, Hisense, and TCL. Google TV is competing with other major television operating systems, including those from Samsung, Amazon, and Roku.
Google also offered a sneak peek at a new "always-on" mode for a selection of TVs. This feature utilizes sensors to detect a user's proximity and display relevant information such as personalized news, weather forecasts, and other potentially useful content. TCL will be the first manufacturer to incorporate this always-on mode, starting in late 2025, followed by Hisense in 2026.
This infusion of AI into Google TV is a strategic move by Google to enhance user experience and increase the platform's competitiveness. The conversational AI capabilities and advanced search functions aim to simplify content discovery and interaction with smart TVs. The "always-on" mode, while still in its early stages, also represents a potential innovation in how TVs interact with their surroundings and present relevant information to users.