Google introduces real-time speech translation powered by Gemini

Google has begun testing real-time translation, introducing a new Gemini-powered feature inside Google Translate.

According to the company, users will be able to put on their headphones, open the Translate app, tap Live Translate and instantly hear the translation in their chosen language with the speaker’s intonation, accent and pacing preserved.

The feature will not require Pixel Buds; it will work with any headphones. Thanks to Gemini, the translator can understand context, including slang, idioms and local expressions. In other words, the translation is designed to capture meaning first.

At launch, the feature supports more than 70 languages. However, it will initially roll out only to select users in the US, India and Mexico and only on Android. A wider release, including iOS support, is planned for 2026.

Meanwhile, improved text translation that can better interpret context and slang is already available on Android, iOS and the web.