AI assistant Gemini coming to Samsung and Sony earbuds

Google plans to expand Gemini AI assistant access to various audio devices across its ecosystem, marking a strategic shift away from Google Assistant as the company pushes its newer AI technology to more hardware. This expansion brings enhanced AI capabilities to earbuds and wearables, allowing for more sophisticated interactions than previously possible with Google Assistant.

The big picture: Samsung will bring Gemini to its Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Watches in the “coming months,” while Sony earbuds will also gain Gemini integration as part of Google’s broader expansion to cars, TVs, and Pixel Watches.

Key capabilities: Gemini on these audio devices will offer more natural responses and advanced features compared to Google Assistant’s limited functionality.

• Samsung notes that users can ask Gemini to remember storage locations of items for easy recall later.
• The AI can summarize emails directly on Galaxy Watches, a feature beyond Google Assistant’s capabilities.

How it works: Accessing Gemini will vary by device but maintains consistent functionality across the ecosystem.

• Galaxy Buds 3 users will activate Gemini using voice commands or pinch and hold controls through their connected Galaxy phones.
• While Galaxy Watches will provide visual confirmation of Gemini responses, the earbuds experience will be audio-only.

Between the lines: This expansion suggests Google is gradually phasing out Google Assistant in favor of Gemini across its device ecosystem.

• The announcement specifically mentions Galaxy Buds 3, Galaxy Watch Ultra, and Galaxy Watch 7, though older models may eventually receive the update.
• The timeline remains somewhat vague, with Samsung only specifying availability within the “coming months,” likely before year’s end.