Google Gemini on Android can’t identify currently playing songs like the Assistant does

admin1 March 2024Last Update :
Google Gemini on Android can't identify currently playing songs like the Assistant does

Google Gemini on Android can’t identify currently playing songs like the Assistant does،

Google revealed its new name for the Bard AI chatbot earlier last month and launched a new Android app, completing the transformation to “Gemini.” From the start, it was pretty obvious that Gemini still wasn't a complete replacement for Google Assistant on Android phones, as it lacked some of the basic features that Assistant users were accustomed to. Today a new Gemini shortcoming has emerged that further justifies this idea. Technological crisis article, Gemini on Android also lacks the ability to identify songs, something the Google Assistant could easily accomplish. Requests to identify a song currently playing, performed by yours truly on a Samsung S24 Ultra and a Google Pixel, return an error message stating “I can't help you identify the song directly, but I can help you help find her.” further offering suggestions on other ways to do this, including using a third-party song identification application.

Results of a query to identify a song on a Samsung and Pixel phone | Image credit: Telephone Arena

To be completely honest, from my own experience, it's not that huge of an obstacle to overcome. As an alternative, you can always use the Google search widget to tap the microphone and then tap the option to identify a song currently playing; however, this requires a few more taps than necessary. Likewise, on a Google Pixel phone with the Now Playing feature, you can see the currently playing song directly on the home screen or find it afterwards by viewing your Now Playing history. This method is less intrusive but still requires manual intervention from the user, which defeats the point of having a voice assistant.

Alternatives to identifying songs on Android: Google search widget (left) and “Now playing” history (right) | Image credit: Telephone Arena

Note that I am currently subscribed to the AI ​​Premium plan, which gives me access to Gemini Advanced, supposed to be more advanced than the standard free version. Right now, I'm taking advantage of the two-month free trial the company offered at launch. However, this free trial expires in April. Everyone who chose to give Gemini Advanced a chance will then be charged $20 per month if not canceled. The question remains whether Google will make Gemini work in a way that makes a paid monthly subscription worth keeping. While the lack of song identification doesn't bother me personally that much, it might not be the case for others who use this feature regularly. Gemini has already had its fair share of issues since its launch, including the human image generation feature, which is now suspended due to the intense backlash it received.

At this point, Gemini feels like a rushed product, lacking the refinement and core features of its predecessor. While innovation is certainly welcome, Gemini currently feels like a beta test. Hopefully Google fixes these shortcomings quickly, but for now, it's hard to recommend Gemini as a true replacement for Google Assistant on Android.