Gemini is headed to Wear OS soon, and that includes Samsung watches

Following Google’s broad announcements at the Android Show: I/O Edition about Gemini’s expansion, Samsung has confirmed that its popular Galaxy Watches and even Galaxy Buds are set to receive this a heavy dose of Gemini in the near future. This is a big step in making Google’s powerful AI assistant more ubiquitous, and for Samsung, it means an even more integrated Galaxy ecosystem.

The prospect of having Gemini directly on your Galaxy Watch is a compelling one. Google and Samsung have both highlighted that this means more natural, hands-free assistance. Imagine asking complex questions, getting help with tasks, or even setting contextual reminders – like “Remember I’m using locker 43 today” or asking Gemini to “Summarize my last email” for a quick overview – without needing to constantly reach for your phone. The emphasis is on more fluid, conversational interactions, moving beyond rigid voice commands and allowing Gemini to understand and act on your requests across your apps.

This AI upgrade is tightly linked with the upcoming Wear OS 6 update. While Wear OS 6 itself will bring a host of improvements, including the new Material 3 Expressive design language for a more personalized and dynamic interface, and even promises of up to 10% better battery life, the integration of Gemini is arguably one of the most anticipated features for not just Pixel Watch users, but other Wear OS users as well.

Samsung has made it clear through its own announcements that Gemini is a significant part of their wearable future. The AI capabilities will extend not just to Galaxy Watches, but also to the Galaxy Buds lineup, specifically mentioning the Galaxy Buds 3 series. For the Buds, Samsung states users will be able to activate Gemini with voice or pinch-and-hold controls to “smoothly interact with your Galaxy smartphone,” allowing you to ask for things like weather forecasts without fumbling for your phone.

Specific roll-out details and eligible models beyond the Galaxy Buds 3 series will likely be fully detailed by Samsung, possibly in conjunction with new Galaxy Watch hardware launches (like the rumored Galaxy Watch 8 series) or their own software update schedules.

For Samsung users, this is a significant announcement. But it’s a big deal for Google, too. Over the past couple of years, Samsung and Google have partnered on more and more things, and getting a company as big as Samsung to fully get on board with the same AI that is powering most Google products (both hardware and software) is a big deal for both companies and for Gemini. Things are moving so rapidly, but having Google and Samsung aligned on this front means that the pace of innovation can continue accelerating.