Google launches Search Live globally with real-time camera and voice search
Google is expanding Search Live globally to users in more than 200 countries, enabling real-time voice and camera search through the Google app and Lens. The feature, powered by Gemini 3.1 Flash Live—a new multilingual audio and video model—allows users to point their phone camera at objects and ask questions with instant spoken responses.
Google Expands Search Live to 200+ Countries
Google is rolling out its Search Live feature globally, making real-time voice and camera-based search available to users in more than 200 countries. The feature is now accessible through the Google app on both Android and iOS, as well as through Google Lens.
How Search Live Works
Search Live enables two primary interaction modes:
Voice Search: Users can ask questions aloud and receive spoken answers paired with relevant web links.
Camera Search: With the camera active, users can point their phone at physical objects and ask contextual questions. Google cites assembling furniture as an example use case—a user could point their camera at a shelf and ask for assembly instructions.
Powered by Gemini 3.1 Flash Live
The feature runs on Google's new Gemini 3.1 Flash Live model, a multilingual audio and voice model designed to enable more natural conversational interactions. The model processes real-time audio and visual input, eliminating the need for users to photograph objects and wait for processing—searches occur while the camera is actively pointed at the subject.
Specific details about the model's capabilities, latency, or technical specifications have not yet been disclosed by Google.
Integration and Accessibility
Search Live is integrated into the AI mode within the Google app, positioning it as a core search interface rather than a standalone feature. The global rollout marks a significant expansion from previous limited availability, though Google has not specified whether all regions receive identical functionality or if certain features vary by location.
What This Means
Google is attempting to shift mobile search from text-based queries to multimodal interactions where users can leverage their device's camera and microphone as primary input methods. This represents a strategic response to AI-powered search competition and aligns with Google's broader efforts to integrate Gemini capabilities across its product suite. The real-time processing requirement suggests significant advances in inference speed—Search Live must provide responses while the camera remains pointed at objects, not after capturing static images. The feature's availability across 200+ countries indicates Google's confidence in Gemini 3.1 Flash Live's multilingual capabilities, though performance variations across languages and regions remain unknown.
Related Articles
Google prepares voice customization for Gemini with speed, energy, formality, and warmth controls
Google is preparing to let users customize Gemini's voice output across four parameters: speed, energy, formality, and warmth, according to code discovered in the Google app 17.41.12 beta. The controls will apply to both Gemini Live and standard chat interactions.
Google renames NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook, adds code execution for Ultra and Workspace users
Google is renaming its AI note-taking app NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook while keeping it as a standalone app. The company is also rolling out code execution capabilities to Google AI Ultra and Workspace business customers, with Pro user access coming in the following weeks.
Google Rebrands NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook, Brings Gemini 3.5 and Antigravity to AI Pro
Google renamed NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook and announced that the Gemini 3.5 model with Antigravity code execution capability will roll out to AI Pro subscribers in the coming weeks. The research tool now has over 30 million users and 600,000+ organizations.
Google Gemini Spark adds Workspace editing, gets 50% speed boost, expands to AI Ultra subscribers
Google has upgraded its Gemini Spark personal agent with the ability to edit shared Google Workspace documents, a 50% speed improvement, and smarter parallel source processing. The service is now available to Google AI Ultra subscribers in most regions, with AI Pro access planned for the near future.
Comments
Loading...