For years, Google Assistant has been the primary virtual assistant on Wear OS devices. However, recent findings in the beta version 16.0.5 of Wear OS indicate that a new contender, Gemini, may take center stage. Lines of decompiled code hint at Gemini’s potential integration into future Wear OS updates.
Users currently engage with Google Assistant by saying, “Hey Google,” with the screen on or by pressing the side button. The assistant is capable of sending messages, playing music, and responding to inquiries directly from the watch interface. An APK teardown conducted by the team at 9to5Google uncovered a snippet that suggests significant changes ahead, highlighted by the phrase: “Easily communicate back and forth to accomplish more with an assistant on your watch, reimagined with Google AI.”
This brief mention raises questions about the specifics of what Gemini may introduce to Wear OS. It doesn’t necessarily mean that Google Assistant will be completely replaced; rather, Gemini could serve as an enhancement that complements the existing assistant’s features.
For clarity, here’s a glimpse of the strings in the code:
<string name=”assistant_bisto_wearable_robin_brand_name”>Gemini</string>
<string name=”assistant_bisto_wearable_welcome_robin_description”>Easily communicate back and forth to accomplish more with an assistant on your watch, reimagined with Google AI</string>
While these revelations are intriguing, they solely provide a preliminary hint at potential developments for Wear OS. It’s important to note that this isn’t an official declaration from Google. The snippets of code could merely reflect experiments within Google’s development team.
If Google is indeed planning to implement Gemini, further details are likely forthcoming. The Gemini AI initiative is becoming a significant focus for the company, and its introduction to wearable technology could represent a considerable advancement.
