Google just brought its Gemini AI to the biggest screen in the house. Starting now, select TCL QM9K TVs running Google TV are shipping with Gemini built in, with more Google TV and Android TV devices getting the upgrade later this year. This means natural, follow-up conversations with your TV about what to watch, plus quick help for things like recipes or homework—no complex commands needed.
Google’s Gemini AI Is Now on Your TV: The New Era of Conversational Tech | Image source: Google
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What Gemini on TV actually does
At a basic level, Gemini can handle the same stuff you’ve used a voice assistant for—play a show, open an app, adjust volume. The difference is how you talk to it. Google says Assistant features remain, but Gemini lets you go beyond simple commands into free-flowing chat that feels closer to asking a friend. As Google TV lead Shalini Govil-Pai puts it, “Everything you already do with Google Assistant still works, but Gemini… goes beyond simple commands.”
Real-world examples
- Stuck on what to watch? Ask for movie night picks that blend everyone’s tastes (“I like dramas, she prefers comedies”).
- Can’t recall a title? Try, “What’s that new hospital drama everyone’s talking about?”
- Catching up? Request a spoiler-safe recap of last season before you dive back in.
- Beyond TV: Ask “why do volcanoes erupt?” or “what dessert can I make in under an hour?” and your TV will read out the answer and surface helpful YouTube videos.
Where (and when) you can try it
The rollout begins on TCL’s QM9K QD-Mini LED lineup, which is on sale now. Gemini support will expand to more hardware in 2025, including the Google TV Streamer 4K, Walmart Onn 4K Pro, and new models from Hisense and TCL. In other words, Gemini AI is headed to millions of living rooms running Google TV or Android TV OS.
Early coverage notes that Gemini Live (the hands-free, phone-style calling mode) isn’t part of the TV experience yet. Expect feature additions over time.
Availability is rolling out in select countries and languages first. Regional coverage so far highlights English in the U.S. and Canada (and French in Canada), with more locales to follow.
A smarter screen
The first TCL sets don’t just add AI; they add awareness. The QM9K series includes a mmWave presence sensor that can wake the TV, dim it, or show glanceable widgets based on how close you are. It’s a small, home-friendly touch that makes the AI features feel built into the room, not bolted on.
Why this matters
TVs are becoming conversational hubs. With Gemini on Google TV, your search for something to watch can begin like a genuine conversation, rather than a hunt through menus. It also ups the stakes in the living-room AI race—Samsung and LG have been courting Microsoft’s Copilot on their latest sets, and Google’s move puts a powerful first-party model in front of couch viewers.
What it could mean next
- Better recommendations: Contextual follow-ups (“make it fun but short”) should refine picks faster.
- Learning moments: Quick explainer answers with video links could turn the TV into a family study tool.
- Hands-free home control: As integrations grow, expect smoother, smarter home routines from the sofa.
The bottom line
If you’re buying a new TCL QM9K, you can try the Gemini on Google TV today; everyone else with supported Google TV or Android TV gear should see it later this year. Ask natural questions, follow up like you would with a person, and let your TV do most of the work. That’s the promise, now rolling out to your living room.
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