Google TV's big free Gemini AI upgrade seems to be arriving early for some – here's what to look for

Google TV Gemini generated list of action movies on HBO Max
(Image credit: Future)

  • Gemini is rolling out to multiple Google TV models this year
  • Already available on TCL QM9K
  • Shared screenshots show Gemini arriving early on Sony TVs

The rollout of Gemini to Google TV is the most important Google TV upgrade yet, and it appears to be arriving early for some people.

The upgrade has been promised for "later this year". It's already available in the TCL QM9K TV and now there are reports of it turning up on Sony Bravia TVs – which is interesting, as Google hadn't highlighted Sony in its list of confirmed Gemini TVs.

But it's clearly happening, as one Bravia user demonstrated when they posted screens to Reddit of the update rolling out to their TV, which is running Android TV 14.

According to the poster, Proshis_Saha_Swopna, "The Gemini icon showed on my home screen which has a new look after I updated Google TV Home app from the Play Store."

Google TV Gemini generated news brief

(Image credit: Future)

What Gemini features are appearing on people's Google TVs?

The shared screenshots show the setup pages for Gemini, including personalization options and the new range of voice choices such as Oxalis, Fern, Croton, Amaryllis, Pothos and Calathea brought across from Google's Nest speakers.

There are 10 voices to choose from, the same number that you get with Gemini on mobile devices, although the names and descriptions differ. For example, on Android you're offered the "calm, mid-range" Nova; on Google TV that option's called Bloom. They're united by a botanical theme, whereas on mobile the theme is astronomy.

The goal of the upgrade is to enhance your TV's ability to answer questions, such as "show me the highest rated show on HBO Max", with a more conversational voice interface – and while it's TV-focused, you can ask questions about other things too. It can summarize the day's headlines, generate screensavers, find relevant YouTube clips and create images.

So when can you expect it? Google told us that the update would be available first on the TCL QM9K out of the box, and that it will come to TCL's QM7K, QM8K and X11K models later this year.

Other TVs in line for the Gemini upgrade include the 2025 Hisense U8, U7 and UX models, and the feature will also be added to the Google TV Streamer and Walmart onn 4K Pro streaming box.

Basically, by next year, it'll probably be on several of the best TVs around – right now, if you see it appearing, you may be one of the lucky early few.

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Carrie Marshall

Contributor

Writer, broadcaster, musician and kitchen gadget obsessive Carrie Marshall has been writing about tech since 1998, contributing sage advice and odd opinions to all kinds of magazines and websites as well as writing more than twenty books. Her latest, a love letter to music titled Small Town Joy, is on sale now. She is the singer in spectacularly obscure Glaswegian rock band Unquiet Mind.

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