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Google's Pixel Buds Get Voice Control via Gemini
Confirmed
In Short: Google has updated its Pixel Buds companion app to include voice control features, allowing users to adjust a wide range of settings hands-free.
Google has updated its Pixel Buds companion app to include voice control features, allowing users to adjust a wide range of settings hands-free.
The new version of the app, rolling out now via the Play Store, integrates with Google’s Gemini assistant.
With the latest update, users can now control settings such as equalizer (EQ) presets, active noise cancellation (ANC) mode, and touch controls without needing to touch their phone.
Users can now ask Gemini to change a wide range of earbud settings, and the assistant will handle the changes.
To use these new features, users must enable their app connections in the Gemini settings and ensure Pixel Buds appears as a connected app.
Once connected, users can simply ask Gemini to make changes, and the assistant will show that it's connecting to the earbuds and making the requested adjustments.
The hands-free ANC and EQ controls are particularly practical, but users can also adjust more niche settings using voice commands.
Android Authority notes that the Gemini app specifically mentions controlling things like EQ preset, ANC mode, conversation detection, and touch controls, but this may not be an exhaustive list.
In addition to the Pixel Buds update, Gemini Live is also expanding its capabilities, allowing users to manage complex tasks, emails, and daily schedules hands-free.
Users can now use natural language to organize ideas into documents, summarize their inbox, or have Gemini handle multi-step projects in the background.
Gemini Live remembers past conversations to provide more helpful answers and integrates with Spark 1 to handle complex, multi-step tasks.
To get started with Gemini Live, users need to connect their apps in the Gemini Personal Intelligence settings and tap the Live icon to begin talking.
What this adds
The updates to the Pixel Buds app and Gemini Live are part of a broader trend towards hands-free, voice-controlled technology.
What's confirmed
- The Google Pixel Buds are getting even better starting today, as you'll now be able to control audio and other earbud settings just by asking Gemini.
- As spotted by 9to5Google, Google has updated the Pixel Buds app to support voice-based controls through Gemini.
- With the latest version, you can ask Gemini to change a wide range of earbud settings.
- With the latest update, you can simply ask Gemini to make the change, and it'll handle the setting for you.
- Once you've updated to the latest version, you should see @Pixel Buds appear as a connected app within Gemini's settings.
- Then, whenever you ask Gemini to change a Pixel Buds setting, Gemini will show that it's connecting to your earbuds and make the requested change.
What's still developing
- Earlier this week, we spotted that Google’s working to add a touch control gesture to mute and unmute the earbuds’ mics during phone calls.
- Google’s added a handy new feature to its Pixel Buds lineup.
- Instead of simply adding a vintage filter, these AI-generated images attempt to recreate the visual language of the era, from soft studio lighting and analogue film grain to traditional clothing, hairstyles and familiar Kerala settings.
- Gemini Live now remembers the things you've chatted about and that matter to you, so you never have to start from scratch.
- You can just talk to it to organize your schedule, sort your emails, or turn messy ideas into neat documents.
- Life moves fast, and speaking a prompt out loud is often the quickest way to get help with Gemini.