The announcement of Google Gemini has been one of the major tech headlines of the months. Besides being available on the web (like Bard has been), Google Gemini also has a mobile app currently available on Android in the US, offering support for additional regions on the horizon.
Besides the new capabilities of Gemini, a recent rumor from 9to5Google shows that the app will soon support headphones just like Google Assistant. After digging deeper, a reporter at 9to5Google revealed that there was code in the app that says, “Gemini mobile app is working on expanding availability to make it accessible on your headphones.”
This focus on headphone accessibility indicates potential future interactions with Gemini in capable headphones such as the Google Pixel Buds Pro or Sony WF-1000XM5. The possibility is intriguing, given that Gemini can now be used as the default assistant instead of Google Assistant. This feature could be a game changer, especially for those who rely more on their headphones, as they will no longer have to remove them to interact with the assistant.
If implemented, support for headphones could have significant potential but also present usability challenges, given Gemini’s initial issues and the prospect of longer answers. Like Bard, Gemini supports extensive conversations on various topics, occasionally leading to lengthy responses. The transition to audio interactions poses uncertainties regarding how these responses will adapt.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT app is already doing voice input and output through their mobile apps, but the experience is not as seamless as interacting with Google Assistant or Siri. Things could be different with Gemini after a couple of updates since it is more integrated into the Android system. For instance, some tasks (such as setting an alarm) that don’t require internet access will be done much quicker.
However, the challenge Google needs to address is dealing with lengthy audio prompts that usually require a few seconds for these chatbots to process before giving a response. Overall, the timeline for Gemini’s integration with headphones hinges on Google’s ability to address such issues and several other limitations early users have reported.
Should You Swap Google Assistant for Gemini Yet?
At this time, you are better off sticking with Google Assistant for voice interactions on Android devices, as Gemini is still being refined. However, with competition from OpenAI, Microsoft, and other tech players, Gemini is a massive priority for Google, and it will likely make significant strides by the end of this year.
Google has already resolved a critical issue requiring users to tap a ‘send’ button after each voice command, making the voice interaction more seamless. However, more is needed to make Gemini more reliable than Google Assistant. More changes, such as quicker responses and integration with more Google apps, are required. The good news is that most of these changes will be ready before the end of the year.
The Gemini team has outlined ongoing improvements, including integrating the Calendar app, addressing overly restrictive guidelines, and refusing to answer specific queries. It is important to note that most of the voice assistant changes will also likely not come to iOS since it requires more access to the iOS system, something Apple may only allow for a while. So, even when the Gemini iOS app arrives, it may not be as capable as the Android version.
