Gemini AI will come to Google TVs later this year, and I had the chance to see it early.

This week at CES, Google showcased a preview of new software and hardware updates that will be incorporated into Google TVs. Key features include a new ambient experience, the integration of Gemini, Google's artificial intelligence model, with Google Assistant, and innovative devices such as far-field microphones and proximity sensors to support these software enhancements. During a demonstration in Las Vegas, the results appeared promising.

For those who have used a Google TV or a Google streaming device, you may already be familiar with the command "ok Google" to search for shows. With the arrival of Gemini, these interactions should feel more natural. For instance, if you ask something like "ok Google, explain the solar system to a third-grade student," the Assistant can maintain the conversation thread, responding to follow-up questions within the same context. During the presentation, it was noted that the answers provided were similar to those obtained when using Gemini in an app or in a browser. However, the TV environment added a row of relevant YouTube videos below, accessible with the remote.

Additionally, it was demonstrated how saying "ok Google, show me my news summary" would bring up an AI-driven summary of the top five news stories of the day, sourced from YouTube headlines and Google News. Each summary took up the entire screen and included a selection of related YouTube videos.

To enable these new intelligent capabilities of the Assistant, Google TV devices will be equipped with far-field microphones that allow interaction with the Assistant without needing the remote. These microphones will be complemented by proximity sensors to provide a novel ambient experience. In the demonstration, as we approached the TV, a screensaver featuring a mix of art, personal photos of the presenter, and AI-generated art was activated, which can be created through voice commands. Once settled on the sofa, the screen changed to a panel with widgets displaying local weather, a personal calendar, and smart home controls.

Versions of some of these features have been seen previously. For example, Amazon's Echo Show devices use proximity sensors to show personal details. The addition of YouTube videos to queries and the creation of screensavers through voice commands were already presented with last year's new Google TV Streamer. The integration of AI has been a common focus in the tech space throughout 2024 and has become evident at this year's CES. Seeing these features in action reveals their development towards turning the home’s largest screen into a device that handles queries and displays data that would typically be searched for on a phone or tablet. The potential of this technology to facilitate the search for engaging content is certainly welcome.

This new technology is expected to be available in Google TV devices by late 2025 and early 2026, with Hisense and TCL confirmed as partners for manufacturing the new equipment.