Google rolls out Gemini AI to older Pixel Buds models

By James On Sep 26, 2024

If you read our Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review, you’ll see that these brand new wireless earbuds have built-in access to Google’s AI assistant, Gemini. But you might not need to upgrade, as we’ve also heard that Gemini support is rolling out to older Pixel Buds.

The news came via emails sent to current Pixel Buds owners, as reported by 9to5GoogleAs long as you have Gemini set up as your assistant on your Android phone instead of Google Assistant, you can access it through your earbuds.

There’s also a tweak to how the “Hey Google” command works: it can now be used to launch Gemini, and is no longer a separate setting on your Android phone. Instead, you can enable hands-free voice access within the Gemini app.

For full details, please see the updated support page for Gemini on Pixel Buds. This change applies to all previous models: Pixel Buds, Pixel Buds Pro, Pixel Buds A-Series, and the new Pixel Buds Pro 2.

Gemini Takes Over

The Pixel Buds A series, previously with Google Assistant (Image credit: Google)

Keep in mind that Gemini isn’t available globally yet, so if it’s not available in your country, you’ll have to wait for the upgrade. In the meantime, you can still access Google Assistant through your earbuds.

Google is clearly working as fast as it can to replace Google Assistant with the more advanced Gemini across all of its apps and devices. For example, Gemini is the default assistant on the new Google Pixel 9 phone series.

It’s no surprise then that Gemini can also be found on older Pixel Buds models: the heavy lifting for Gemini is done on your phone, so it’s simply a matter of directing the Pixel Buds to the right assistant.

We saw the change coming a few days ago, when the feature that allowed Google Assistant to read out incoming phone notifications through older Pixel Buds earbuds was removed. You can now receive them through Gemini by saying, “Hey Google, read my notifications.”