Mike gets an early look at how Google will add Gemini AI to its Google TV platform later this year. Gemini will let you use your TV virtually hands-free, especially when Google TV sets from TCL and Hisense arrive towards the end of 2025.
Category
🤖
TechTranscript
00:00Google is adding Gemini AI to its smart TV platform,
00:03so you'll be able to do a lot more with your TV than just watching movies.
00:12So in order to save energy, the Google TV, while it's always on,
00:16turns the screen off when you're not in the room.
00:18For example, right now, we're outside of its detection zone,
00:22so the screen is off.
00:23But I'm going to move a little bit closer, about here,
00:26and it should turn on.
00:30We'll see a little screensaver.
00:32It'll pop up like that.
00:33It'll show artwork or whatever you want, sort of as an ambient mode.
00:37I'm going to move a little bit closer now.
00:42And once I get into this range, now it's going to show more actionable advice,
00:45such as your calendar, the weather,
00:48maybe some footage from your security cameras,
00:50and maybe some other photos and things too.
00:52Thanks to the built-in microphones in the TV,
00:54you'll be able to interact with Google directly without ever picking up the remote.
00:59So for example, you can ask it for the weather,
01:02change channels, or look up information on shows that you might want to watch.
01:07For example, you might be able to say,
01:09show me movies about dinosaurs, and it'll provide you a list.
01:13And then you could narrow that down further by saying,
01:15I like Jurassic Park.
01:17What are movies like it I can watch with my kids?
01:19So it'll further call that down for you to show you maybe age-appropriate content.
01:25One of the new features that's coming to this interface is a news brief.
01:29If you ask it for today's top stories,
01:32Google will provide you recaps of the top stories
01:36from a variety of reputable news sources.
01:39You can also use the TV for educational content.
01:42For example, you could ask Gemini to explain the solar system to a third grader,
01:47and then it'll bring up not only a response in Gemini,
01:51but also relevant YouTube clips that might explain
01:55various planets in language that a kid could understand.
01:59As with the current Google TV streamer,
02:01this one will also integrate with smart home devices.
02:04So for example, if someone rings your video doorbell,
02:08you'll get a picture of it on the screen itself,
02:10and then you'll be able to talk with the person at your door,
02:13such as having them leave a package or something like that.
02:16And if you want to turn off the lights for movie time,
02:19you can just talk to your TV and it'll turn off the lights,
02:22change the thermostat settings, and even lock your front doors.
02:26Hey Google, let's start movie night.
02:32And the lights turn off.
02:33These Google TV Gemini features are going to be rolling out
02:36throughout the year to the Google TV platform.
02:39The TVs themselves aren't going to come to the end of the year,
02:42and they'll be made by TCL and Hisense.
02:45For more information on the latest news from CES,
02:48please check out our TikTok feed, as well as our YouTube feed,
02:52and please go to tomsguide.com.
02:54For Tom's Guide, this is Mike Prospero.