Phones had personal assistants long before generative AI, and manufacturers have tried different ways to make them easy to invoke. Google’s newest update to Gemini Live is trying something new by treating your conversation like a phone call.
Gemini Live’s New UI Mimics a Phone Call
As 9to5Google spotted, Gemini Live has a brand new UI. If you’re unfamiliar with it, Gemini Live does away with text-based communication and allows you to talk with the AI assistant. It feels less like you’re using an app and more like conversing with a human. We explored how Gemini Live is the best AI voice mode if you’d like to learn more.
It seems Google is going all-in with the conversational theme, as the Gemini Live UI has changed to look more like a phone call. Gone is the plain-looking notification that every app uses; now, it features a red “hang up” button and a blue “hold” button to give you the feeling that you’re on the line with someone.
Google Is Doubling Down on a More Human Gemini
So, why did Google make this change? Well, it’s hard to say for sure, but I believe it’s part of Google’s attempts to get people to “warm up” to its new AI assistant. The company has invested billions into Gemini, but all that money spent is for naught if nobody uses it.
As such, I feel that Google (and AI companies as a whole) has been working hard to make its AI sound like a human being. That includes both realistic voices and personal mannerisms when addressing the user. That way, it lowers the barrier of entry to use the AI assistant; it allows people to interact with the assistant using natural English instead of forcing people to learn how to prompt an AI properly.
Gemini Live’s new UI is a big indicator of this shift. You are no longer talking to an AI; you’re “calling” a digital friend to help you out. We’ll just have to wait and see if this is enough to encourage people to give Gemini a spin.
