Google has unveiled an expansion of its Live Translate capability, which facilitates hearing conversations simultaneously translated directly into one’s earphones. Previously restricted to Android device owners across just three nations, this feature is now accessible on iOS, with the service’s reach growing to encompass 12 countries.
This technology, powered by the Gemini artificial intelligence, effectively transforms any pair of headphones into a personal translation device, successfully preserving the speaker’s inflections and speech rhythm. Starting today, as reported by TechCrunch, residents of the United States, India, Mexico, Germany, Spain, France, Nigeria, Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan, Bangladesh, and Thailand can utilize this feature. Previously, the service was only available on Android devices in the US, India, and Mexico.
The company emphasizes that the AI’s ability to retain the interlocutor’s tone, accents, and pace significantly aids in following the conversation flow, allowing users to easily identify who is speaking at any given moment. Google suggests employing this feature for everyday scenarios, such as sharing a meal with monolingual relatives, as well as for practical use while traveling abroad.
Any headphone model is compatible with this function, and the overall system boasts support for over 70 distinct languages. To initiate the translation process, the user simply needs to open the Google Translate application, select the “Live Translate” option, and connect their headset.
On the same day, Google announced the worldwide rollout of its Search Live feature. This function, initially introduced in July 2025, enables users to point their smartphone camera at objects to receive real-time assistance. The system can engage in a dialogue with the user, using the visual context gathered via the camera within the Google application. This tool is now available in over 200 countries across all languages that support the AI Mode (previously, its operation was limited to the US and India).
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