Google planning Gemini live translation feature for headphones: Here’s how it will work

Google is gearing up to bring Gemini-powered live translation to a wider range of headphones, expanding a feature that was once limited to the company’s Pixel Buds. The update, currently rolling out in beta, integrates Gemini’s latest translation capabilities directly into the Google Translate app. According to Google, the aim is to make real-time language interpretation accessible through “any pair of headphones” equipped with a microphone.

How the feature works

The live translation experience is powered by Gemini’s speech-to-speech intelligence, which processes what you hear and returns a natural, context-aware interpretation. Instead of translating each word literally, Gemini analyses the intent and meaning behind phrases, delivering results that sound more accurate and conversational.

Google VP of product and search, Rose Yao, explained that Gemini is designed to handle nuanced expressions. She noted that idioms like “stealing my thunder” are translated meaningfully rather than word-for-word, allowing users to get translations that better reflect the speaker’s intent.