Key Points
- Google is bringing Gemini integration to its Google TV Streamer device, starting this week.
- Gemini will live alongside the Google Assistant, and handle complicated, conversational-style queries.
- Google Assistant will continue to handle remedial tasks, like launching apps or checking the weather.
Google has pushed out an update to its Google TV Streamer device that brings the smart assistant Gemini to the set-top box for the first time.
The upgrade allows Gemini to receive conversational-style questions and queries, and deliver back contextual, personalized results, similar to how Gemini functions on computers, phones and tablets. Google says Gemini will work across apps installed on the Google TV Streamer and other services that aren’t installed, including Google Search.
Google is promoting the integration as an “upgrade” to Google Assistant, but a Google executive previously told The Desk that Google Assistant and Gemini will co-exist on supported devices for some time. Google Assistant will handle remedial tasks, such as launching an app or fetching real-time weather data, while Gemini will take on more-complicated questions like “What’s the new hospital drama that everyone’s talking about?”
The launch of Gemini on the Google TV Streamer is part of a broader rollout that will see Gemini integrated into most Google TV-powered Android TV devices through next year. In addition to the Google TV Streamer, Google has plans to bring Gemini to the premium version of Walmart’s Onn Android TV player and on high-end models of TCL and Hisense smart TVs, among other gadgets.
Google says Gemini is optimized for large-screen TVs, and the experience will vary based on device. The company also cautions that information from Gemini shouldn’t be leaned upon as medical, legal or financial advice because it can sometimes provide “inaccurate, offensive or inappropriate information that doesn’t represent Google’s views.”
