"Hey Gemini" wake word debuts on Google's smart glasses

Google's voice assistant is about to answer to a second name. The "Hey Gemini" wake word is arriving, and its first home is a pair of smart glasses.

Phones and smart home devices are left out

At the moment "Hey Gemini" does not work on phones or on smart home hardware. It is unclear whether Google will bring it to them, and when. It is also unclear how hard it would be to give older devices a new wake word.

That leaves a split in the lineup. Someone with the glasses and a phone could use one name on their face and another in their pocket.

Two wake words on one pair of frames

"Hey Gemini" does not push out the earlier wake words. For now, people using Android XR glasses can choose either one, and tapping the frames also starts Gemini.

Pre-orders open for Intelligent Eyewear

Pre-orders began on November 12 for Intelligent Eyewear smart glasses from Google, Samsung, Gentle Monster and Warby Parker.

Google gave three sample uses. Google named three uses: asking about a mural on the street, getting a book pick from a "New Arrivals" shelf, or looking at an event poster to see whether the Calendar has a free slot.

A phrase expected for nearly two years

The phrase had been expected for nearly two years, tied to smart glasses on Android XR. Fresh signs of it were still turning up last month, so this is the first official confirmation.

Source: Android Authority