Google has just introduced three new voice options for its AI-powered assistant, Gemini, in a move the company says is aimed at making interactions with smart devices feel more like a natural human conversation.
Continuing a theme from previous updates, the new voices are named after plants.
What Are the New Voices?
According to the company's announcement, the new voices offer a variety to suit different user preferences:
- Yarrow: A voice with a warm and deep tone.
- Croton: Offers a smooth, low-pitched tone.
- Pilea: Features a brighter and sharper vocal quality.
A Strategic Shift from Assistant to Gemini
These additions join the set of voices launched last December, bringing the total number of Gemini-powered voices to ten.
However, This update is more than just a cosmetic enhancement; it signals a major strategic shift within Google.
The company has confirmed its plans to fully rebrand "Google Assistant" to "Gemini" across all its platforms, from smartphones to home devices and cars via Android Auto. The goal is to create a unified and contextually rich AI experience.
How to Try the New Voices
For users interested in trying out the new voices, it requires joining the Google Home app's Public Preview program and then enabling the "AI Test Kitchen" experimental features.
Afterward, the new voices will appear in the assistant's voice settings menu within the app.
It's important to note that these features are still in a limited, experimental phase.
Access is currently restricted to users in the United States who use English on Nest Mini and Nest Audio devices. Broader availability is expected to roll out to more users and devices later this year.
