Gemini adds free real-time voice

Google said on May 20, 2025 that Gemini Live with camera and screen sharing became free on Android and iOS for all users, widening access to the company’s real-time voice interface in its Gemini mobile app. Google described Gemini Live as a way to hold spoken, back-and-forth conversations with Gemini, including for brainstorming, planning and asking follow-up questions without typing. The company announced the change in a Google I/O 2025 post by Josh Woodward, vice president at Google Labs and Google Gemini. Google’s product page says Gemini Live lets users “brainstorm and organize your thoughts,” and adds camera, screen-sharing and spoken-response features for mobile users. Google says the feature is available in more than 45 languages and in more than 150 countries, subject to device, account and country limits. ### When did Google make Gemini’s live voice feature free? (blog.google) Google announced the broader free rollout on May 20, 2025 in a post titled “Gemini App: 7 updates from Google I/O 2025.” The post said “Gemini Live with camera and screen sharing” was free on Android and iOS for everyone starting that day. An earlier Google launch had limited Gemini Live more narrowly. (gemini.google) Google’s archived product posts show Gemini Live first rolling out to Gemini Advanced subscribers before later expanding to more users and languages. ### What can people actually do with Gemini Live? Google’s Gemini Live page says users can speak naturally, interrupt mid-conversation, change topics and use the tool to brainstorm out loud. (blog.google) Google lists examples including planning an event, preparing for an interview, practicing a language and getting advice while shopping. Google’s Android support page says Gemini Live can also be used to “talk back and forth,” “brainstorm ideas out loud,” “explore” topics and “practice aloud.” The same page says users can start a Live session from the Gemini mobile app or by voice command, and can add camera streaming or screen sharing during a session. (blog.google) (gemini.google) ### Where does Gemini Live work, and where does it not? Google’s support documentation says Gemini Live is available in the Gemini mobile app or when Gemini is set as the mobile assistant on supported devices. The company says, for now, Gemini Live is not available in the Gemini web app, and on Android it is also unavailable in Gemini in Google Messages. (support.google.com) Google’s help pages also say users must generally be 18 or older, signed in to Gemini Apps, and using the latest version of the Google app or Gemini mobile app. Availability can vary by device, language, account type and country, according to Google. ### How does that compare with paid AI companion apps? Character.AI’s subscription page lists c.ai+ at $9.99 per month or $94.99 per year, with perks including unlimited voice calls, faster access and other premium features. (support.google.com) Character.AI also says free users still have access to its basic chat models. Pi’s official site promotes voice use — “Talk it out live” and “Talk to Pi, your personal AI” — but the pages surfaced in current research did not show a public subscription price. (support.google.com) That means the broad claim that Pi charges $10 to $20 per month could not be confirmed from the company’s currently accessible official pages. ### What is Google saying comes next? Google said in the same May 20, 2025 announcement that Gemini Live would begin integrating more deeply with Google services, starting with Maps, Calendar, Tasks and Keep. (character.ai) The company gave examples including discussing plans in Gemini Live and having the app create a Google Calendar event, or asking for local information through Google Maps. (pi.ai) Google’s current support pages still describe Gemini Live as a mobile feature, not a web one. For users tracking the next step, Google’s product and help pages are the place to watch for any expansion beyond Android and iOS apps. (blog.google)