A fresh Google TV update puts Gemini tools on your TV, letting users generate and remix photos and videos with voice prompts.
In the middle of the week, Google unveiled a new wave of features for Google TV, including a dedicated extended row of short videos and direct access to YouTube Shorts right on the home screen.
The main portion of the update focuses on Gemini. In the Gemini tab, a “Create” button appears, allowing users to try the generative AI tools Nano Banana and Veo. Initially they will be available on TCL TVs with Gemini support in the US, with expansion to other devices expected later.
Expanded Gemini capabilities on Google TV
Nano Banana is Google’s own model for creating and editing images. It lets you transform photos using voice prompts: changing clothing, updating backgrounds, or creating entirely new scenes. Google positions this feature as a shared living-room experience and encourages users to experiment with prompts to entertain family and friends.
Veo, on the other hand, lets you create clips from scratch or animate static images by describing the desired scenario. For example: “make my granddad perform a moonwalk in space”.
Updates to Google Photos, Remix, and Dynamic Slideshows
Google Photos is also getting an update for Google TV. Gemini-based search lets you quickly find specific memories, such as trips or birthdays, without scrolling through the entire library. Results are displayed in a convenient viewing format – with the option to view images in full screen or start a slideshow.
Remix will also arrive – a feature that lets you apply artistic styles, such as watercolor or oil painting, to personal photos. Additionally, Dynamic Slideshows offers animated layouts, frames, and color processing. Users will be able to transform any Google Photos collection into a vivid television presentation simply by selecting Google Photos in the screensaver settings.
Short videos for you and YouTube Shorts
In addition, Google is focusing on the growing popularity of short videos. Soon the main Google TV screen will feature a new row “Shorts for you” with content from YouTube Shorts. This is a move in response to user convenience: YouTube recently allowed hiding Shorts in its mobile app, which demonstrates the variety of feedback. Google also hints at possible expansion beyond Shorts in the future, possibly to other platforms. Also in the US, Instagram earlier this year expanded its TV app to Google TV devices.
It is expected that most of these innovations will first appear on Gemini-supported devices in the US, after which the update series will spread to other regions and platforms. Google continues to integrate artificial intelligence into Google TV, offering users a more personalized and interactive experience.