Google just announced a major update to its “Gemini Live API.” This is the core technology that developers use to build voice assistants into their apps.
This update makes those voice assistants much smarter in two simple ways:
- They are more reliable at doing things.
- They are more natural to talk to.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what that means.
1. Better at Doing Things (More Reliable)
Voice assistants are only useful if they can actually perform tasks, not just chat. This is called “function calling” the AI’s ability to connect to other services to, for example, book a flight, check the weather, or make a reservation.
- The Update: This process is now twice as reliable as before.
- Why it Matters: When you ask an app to do something, it’s far more likely to work correctly on the first try, making the assistant genuinely helpful.
2. Better at Understanding You (More Natural)
Real-life conversations are messy. This update helps the AI handle them like a human would.
- It Ignores “Side Chatter”: If someone walks into the room and starts talking, the AI now understands they aren’t talking to it and will pause.
- It Understands Pauses: If you pause to think in the middle of a sentence, the AI will wait patiently instead of thinking you’re finished and interrupting.
- It Handles Interruptions: If the AI is talking and you cut in, it will now stop and listen to you, just as a person would.
Coming Soon: A “Thinking” Feature
Google also announced that soon, the AI will be able to use a “thinking budget.” For very complex questions (like “plan a 5-day vacation on a budget”), it will take a few extra seconds to “think” through the problem instead of giving a fast, wrong answer.
What This Means for You
This update means the voice assistants in your favorite apps will soon become far less frustrating and much more powerful. They will be better at successfully completing tasks and will feel more natural to interact with.
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