Gemini Live acquires control over agentic tasks, voice inbox functionality, and personal intelligence.

      Google has introduced four new features to Gemini Live, enabling spoken commands to activate background agents that function across Docs, Sheets, and Drive, in addition to hands-free control of Gmail and a spoken daily summary. Its DMA settlement mandates that by July 2027, it must allow competing assistants to achieve similar capabilities on Android.

      The voice assistant now continues to function even after a user stops speaking. Gemini Live can relay a spoken command to Spark, which performs multi-step tasks across Docs, Sheets, Drive, and the web over several days, even when the app is closed.

      Three additional smaller features have also been introduced. These include a spoken daily summary that integrates Gmail and Calendar, hands-free inbox management (which allows for searching, summarizing, starring, archiving, and deleting), and Personal Intelligence, which retains past conversations and accesses connected applications.

      The rationale behind the design is clear. Google indicates that 63% of Gemini users currently interact with it via voice, and Neel Joshi, the product director, noted that “speaking a prompt out loud is often the quickest way to get help with Gemini.”

      Some of these features have previously appeared. Spark and Daily Brief were initially showcased at I/O in May, and what is genuinely novel is accessing them through voice in a continuous conversation format.

      The tiers of service are more significant than the features themselves. Accessing Spark requires a Google AI Pro subscription or higher, while Daily Brief mandates AI Plus, meaning that the more autonomous capabilities are available only with the pricier plan.

      In Europe, this development aligns with an existing obligation for Google. The agreement with the Commission necessitates that by July 2027, competing assistants must be able to offer equivalent functionalities on Android, including voice activation commands and in-app actions.

      This raises the bar. Every new feature added to Gemini Live serves as a benchmark for what competitors should eventually be permitted to develop within the EU.

      The data aspect is addressed separately under the same legislation. Article 5(2) of the Digital Markets Act prevents a gatekeeper from sharing personal data from a designated service with other services it provides without specific consent.

      Of the four applications mentioned by Google, two are designated. Search and YouTube fall under core platform services according to Alphabet’s classification, while Gmail and Photos do not.

      Google asserts that nothing will happen unless users initiate it. Users must link their applications in the Personal Intelligence settings for the features to be functional.

      However, the announcement does not specify where these features will be available. It does not mention any countries, languages, or specific exclusions in Europe, despite the company's assistant having previously missed its launch in that region.