back
Get SIGNAL/NOISE in your inbox daily

TCL has announced the QM9K, its new flagship QD mini LED television series that will be the first TVs to feature Gemini built into Google TV. The integration represents a significant step forward in smart TV technology, combining advanced AI capabilities with hands-free operation and premium display features.

What you should know: The QM9K series introduces several industry-first features that could reshape how users interact with their televisions.

  • Users can engage with Gemini using the standard “Hey Google” voice prompt to find movies, ask questions about any topic, and control smart home devices synced through Google Home.
  • An mmWave sensor acts as a radar system to detect when someone is in front of the TV, enabling completely hands-free wake functionality with customizable distance settings and operating hours.
  • Google TV on the QM9K supports creating custom AI screensavers based on user descriptions or prompts.

Technical specifications: The displays deliver substantial improvements in both visual quality and design compared to previous models.

  • The “Zero Border” edge-to-edge WHVA panels promise excellent color accuracy with a bezel-less design.
  • Up to 6,000 precise dimming zones provide deep contrast—a 57 percent increase over the QM8K series.
  • Peak brightness reaches up to 6,500 nits in HDR, representing a 30 percent boost over its predecessor.

Product lineup: The QM9K series covers a wide range of screen sizes to accommodate different spaces and preferences.

  • Panel sizes range from 65 inches to 98 inches.
  • Audio is handled by Bang & Olufsen, rounding out the premium positioning.
  • The TVs will be available at Best Buy and select regional retailers later this month.

Why this matters: The integration of Gemini directly into TV hardware signals a broader shift toward AI-powered entertainment experiences, potentially setting new expectations for smart TV functionality and user interaction patterns across the industry.

Recent Stories

Oct 17, 2025

DOE fusion roadmap targets 2030s commercial deployment as AI drives $9B investment

The Department of Energy has released a new roadmap targeting commercial-scale fusion power deployment by the mid-2030s, though the plan lacks specific funding commitments and relies on scientific breakthroughs that have eluded researchers for decades. The strategy emphasizes public-private partnerships and positions AI as both a research tool and motivation for developing fusion energy to meet data centers' growing electricity demands. The big picture: The DOE's roadmap aims to "deliver the public infrastructure that supports the fusion private sector scale up in the 2030s," but acknowledges it cannot commit to specific funding levels and remains subject to Congressional appropriations. Why...

Oct 17, 2025

Tying it all together: Credo’s purple cables power the $4B AI data center boom

Credo, a Silicon Valley semiconductor company specializing in data center cables and chips, has seen its stock price more than double this year to $143.61, following a 245% surge in 2024. The company's signature purple cables, which cost between $300-$500 each, have become essential infrastructure for AI data centers, positioning Credo to capitalize on the trillion-dollar AI infrastructure expansion as hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Elon Musk's xAI rapidly build out massive computing facilities. What you should know: Credo's active electrical cables (AECs) are becoming indispensable for connecting the massive GPU clusters required for AI training and inference. The company...

Oct 17, 2025

Vatican launches Latin American AI network for human development

The Vatican hosted a two-day conference bringing together 50 global experts to explore how artificial intelligence can advance peace, social justice, and human development. The event launched the Latin American AI Network for Integral Human Development and established principles for ethical AI governance that prioritize human dignity over technological advancement. What you should know: The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the Vatican's research body for social issues, organized the "Digital Rerum Novarum" conference on October 16-17, combining academic research with practical AI applications. Participants included leading experts from MIT, Microsoft, Columbia University, the UN, and major European institutions. The conference...