Google’s ‘live’ AI search assistant can handle conversations in dozens more languages | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Google’s ‘live’ AI search assistant can handle conversations in dozens more languagesComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...TechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechAICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AINewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsGoogle’s ‘live’ AI search assistant can handle conversations in dozens more languagesGemini 3.1 Flash Live is powering faster and ‘more natural’ AI audio in Search Live.Gemini 3.1 Flash Live is powering faster and ‘more natural’ AI audio in Search Live.by Emma RothCloseEmma RothNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma RothMar 26, 2026, 6:47 PM UTCLinkShareGiftImage: GoogleEmma RothCloseEmma RothPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.Google is expanding access to Search Live, a feature that lets you search for information using your voice and camera. The AI search assistant is now available in more than 200 countries and territories, as well as dozens of languages, according to an announcement on Thursday.Search Live rolled out broadly in the US last September, allowing you to point your phone’s camera at something and ask about it aloud, such as how to install a shelving unit. The AI assistant will then offer an audio response, along with links to information it finds on the web.Google says it’s powering the global expansion of Search Live with its new Gemini 3.1 Flash Live audio-focused AI model, which it says is “inherently multilingual.” The new model also comes with improvements to the speed of its responses, and offers “more natural and intuitive conversations,” according to Google.You can try Search Live by opening the Google app on Android or iOS, and tapping the “Live” button beneath the search bar. You can also access Search Live through Google Lens.In addition to this update, Google is rolling out Translate’s real-time translation feature to iOS. That means users with iPhones can use the app to capture speech in real-time and hear the translation in their headphones. This feature is also expanding to more areas, including Germany, Spain, France, Nigeria, Italy, the UK, Japan, Bangladesh, and Thailand.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Emma RothCloseEmma RothNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma RothAICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AIGoogleCloseGooglePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GoogleNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularThe United States router ban, explainedSeiko resurrected a 44-year-old digital watch NASA astronauts wore to spaceIntel and LG Display may have beaten Apple and Qualcomm with the best laptop battery life everThe best deals we’ve found from Amazon’s Big Spring Sale (so far)Disney’s big bets on the metaverse and AI slop aren’t going so wellThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Google’s expansion of Search Live, its voice and camera-powered AI search assistant, marks a significant step in the evolution of how users interact with information. The initiative, currently available in over 200 countries and territories, represents a substantial broadening of access beyond its initial US rollout. This expansion is primarily driven by the deployment of Google’s new Gemini 3.1 Flash Live audio-focused AI model, a feature intrinsically designed for multilingual capabilities. This model’s core function is to facilitate faster responses and more natural conversational flow, addressing a key area of improvement for previous iterations of the technology.

The functionality of Search Live centers around the ability to point a smartphone’s camera at an object or scene and engage in an audio-based query. The AI subsequently provides an audio response, coupled with relevant links gleaned from the web. This approach streamlines information retrieval, particularly in scenarios where traditional text-based searches might prove cumbersome or inefficient. The use of Gemini 3.1 Flash Live not only enhances the responsiveness but also suggests a deepening of Google’s investment in AI models optimized for real-time, voice-activated tasks.

Furthermore, Google is concurrently rolling out enhancements to Translate’s real-time translation feature to iOS. This feature allows users to capture speech in real-time and receive an immediate audio translation, directly into their headphones. The rollout expands to additional geographic areas, including Germany, Spain, France, Nigeria, Italy, the UK, Japan, Bangladesh, and Thailand, demonstrating a commitment to global accessibility and fostering communication across linguistic barriers. This concurrent expansion alongside Search Live underlines Google’s broader strategy of integrating AI across its product suite.

The underlying technology reinforces Google’s move toward a more conversational and intuitive search experience. The “more natural and intuitive conversations” Google highlights with the Gemini model signify a shift away from purely algorithmic responses towards a system designed to mimic human dialogue, improving user satisfaction and facilitating efficient information access. The broadening geographical reach of both initiatives— Search Live and the expanded Translate feature— indicates Google’s commitment to making its AI-powered services accessible to a wider global audience, further solidifying its position in the competitive landscape of information retrieval and language translation.