Gemini Live vs. ChatGPT Voice: Which AI offers a more natural conversation?
Speaking with an AI chatbot can be a little awkward, but companies like Google and OpenAI are working on fixing that.
Google's breadth of hardware and software services means that it has a natural advantage over OpenAI. Case in point: you can use Gemini Live on a dedicated smart speaker via a Google Home Speaker. In fact, the company even brought the feature to older Nest Audio and Hub devices. My Google Home Mini supports the feature too, which is impressive for a device launched in 2017. The only caveat is that you need an active Google Home Premium subscription ($10 per month) to use Gemini Live on smart home devices.
The Pixel Buds line also has deep Gemini Live integration, which allows you to start a conversation using just your voice. OpenAI is working on its own smart home hardware, but we haven't heard about pricing or availability just yet. Either way, Google has already sold millions of smart speakers and displays, so the cost of entry into the Gemini Live ecosystem is lower for many.
Gemini Live can also reference information from your personal Google account for more personalized responses. This feature, dubbed Personal Intelligence, can look up emails, YouTube videos, and documents saved to your Drive.
When I asked Gemini Live whether I received any bills this month, for example, it listed everything it found in my Gmail inbox after a few seconds of processing. Google's chatbot can also add a calendar event mid-conversation and control smart home devices. ChatGPT cannot peer into your digital life at this time, nor can it access Google's services like Maps and YouTube.
When I don't need any of these features, though, I often find myself reaching for ChatGPT Voice rather than Gemini Live simply because the former sounds more natural to my ears. Since both are available for free, I'd recommend testing them before paying for higher usage limits.
