Last year, Google unveiled Project Astra, a groundbreaking, multi-modal AI enhancement designed to interpret the world via your smartphone’s camera. Excitingly, this innovation is poised to reach a broader array of Android phones than initially anticipated. A recent Google support article, cited by 9to5Google, reveals that the capability to share your camera or screen with Gemini Live within the Gemini app—central to the Project Astra update—will be accessible on ‘any Android device with Gemini Advanced’. This dispels earlier speculation that such advanced features would be limited to Gemini on premium devices like Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy models.
However, there’s a catch: accessing these features requires a Gemini Advanced subscription, priced at $19.99 / £18.99 / AU$32.99 monthly. The rollout has already begun, albeit gradually, meaning not all users may have immediate access. The TechRadar team, for instance, has yet to observe these features on their devices.
Gemini Live distinguishes itself as a more natural, conversational chat mode on mobile, allowing interruptions and employing a more human-like dialogue compared to the standard Gemini voice mode. The upcoming upgrade will enable Gemini Live to access your camera feed and phone screen, allowing you to inquire about anything in your immediate view or on your device. Early demonstrations showcase Gemini’s ability to recognize objects, recall locations, and even tackle math problems in real-time.
To experience Gemini Live’s core features—excluding the new Project Astra enhancements—simply tap the sound wave icon adjacent to the text input box in the Gemini app on Android or iOS, regardless of your subscription status.
