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Gemini getting ready to replace Google Assistant on Wear OS

Following phones, tablets, and earbuds, Google is next bringing Gemini to Wear OS watches.

About APK Insight: In this “APK Insight” post, we’ve decompiled the latest version of an application that Google uploaded to the Play Store. When we decompile these files (called APKs, in the case of Android apps), we’re able to see various lines of code within that hint at possible future features. Keep in mind that Google may or may not ever ship these features, and our interpretation of what they are may be imperfect. We’ll try to enable those that are closer to being finished, however, to show you how they’ll look in case that they do ship. With that in mind, read on.


Version 16.0.5 (from 15.52.37) — kicking off the year in betas — of the Google app describes Gemini as letting you “Easily talk back and forth to get more done with an assistant on your watch, reimagined with Google AI.”

  • <string name=”assistant_bisto_wearable_robin_brand_name”>Gemini</string>
  • <string name=”assistant_bisto_wearable_welcome_robin_description”>Easily talk back and forth to get more done with an assistant on your watch, reimagined with Google AI</string>

It remains to be seen how capable Gemini will be and what “get more done” actually translates to in terms of capabilities. Hopefully, that at least means access to Gemini Extensions on your wrist, while “talk back and forth” hopefully allows you to phrase conversations in a more natural manner than what’s possible today. There’s no mention of Gemini Live today, while another question is how much visual feedback Gemini will provide.

Top comment by TurboFool

Liked by 7 people

Let's see how well it works. While Gemini's improved a lot, some things it's still worse at, like unlocking my door. I rely on my watch to handle certain actions as a result. I'd hate to see it regress too. That said, for the most part most of what Gemini now does it does better, so fingers crossed.

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Strings today describe how to set-up Gemini on your watch from the phone app. Gemini might arrive on Wear OS via an update to the “Assistant” app — com.google.android.wearable.assistant — that was introduced with Wear OS 3.

Like before, it can be accessed with the “Hey Google” hotword when the screen is active, or holding down on the side button. 

  • <string name=”speechenroll_gemini_hotword_wear_header_title”>Turn on \u201c%1$s\u201d for hands-free help</string>
  • <string name=”speechenroll_gemini_hotword_wear_header_description”>First, wake up your watch by lifting and tilting your wrist or tapping the screen. Then, say \u201c%1$s\u201d.</string>
    <string name=”speechenroll_gemini_hotword_wear_styled_consent_text_first_bullet”>Your assistant will wait in standby mode to recognize when you say \u201c%1$s\u201d.</string>

Updating…

Thanks to JEB Decompiler, from which some APK Insight teardowns benefit.

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Avatar for Abner Li Abner Li

Editor-in-chief. Interested in the minutiae of Google and Alphabet. Tips/talk: abner@9to5g.com

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