Google Brings Gemini AI to Your Wrist: A New Era of Smartwatch Intelligence Begins

Artificial Intelligence has transformed our smartphones, laptops, and even homes – and now it’s coming straight to your wrist. At the highly anticipated Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event, Google officially announced the expansion of Gemini Wear OS: Google AI Comes to Your Smartwatch, starting with the brand-new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 series.

This move marks a significant leap forward in how we interact with wearable devices, integrating powerful AI assistance into everyday tasks without needing to reach for your phone. Let’s explore what Gemini AI on Wear OS smartwatches brings, the supported devices, and how it will redefine your smartwatch experience.

What is Gemini AI?

If you’re catching up, Gemini AI is Google’s advanced generative AI platform that powers conversational, task-oriented, and contextual assistance. Think of it as a smarter version of Google Assistant that understands complex queries, summarises information, creates content, and manages tasks intuitively.

Previously limited to smartphones, tablets, and PCs, Gemini AI is now set to transform your wristwatch into a truly intelligent personal assistant.

Galaxy Watch 8: The First with Android 16 and Wear OS 6

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 series will be the first smartwatches to ship with Wear OS 6 and Android 16, introducing a suite of improvements such as better battery optimisation, enhanced health tracking, and seamless AI integration.

At launch, users of the Galaxy Watch 8 will get immediate access to Gemini AI features, positioning Samsung ahead in the wearable AI race.

Gemini AI Coming to All Wear OS Smartwatches

Google has confirmed that Gemini AI for Wear OS will not remain exclusive to Samsung. Starting July 9, 2025, the rollout will extend to smartwatches from:

• Pixel Watch series

• Oppo

• OnePlus

• Xiaomi

• And other Wear OS smartwatch brands

However, to access Gemini, your smartwatch must run Wear OS 4 or later. Supported devices will be able to trigger Gemini via:

• Saying “Hey Google”
• Pressing the side button
• Tapping the Gemini app icon

Key Features of Gemini AI on Wear OS

Here’s how Gemini AI will elevate your smartwatch from a simple notification tool to a proactive AI companion:

1. Voice Queries

Ask your watch anything, from weather updates to knowledge questions, and get fast, natural, and context-aware answers without touching your phone.

Example: “What time does my meeting start tomorrow?” or “Who won the Wimbledon final today?”

2. Task Management

Gemini AI enables you to send messages, set reminders, create to-do lists, and navigate directly from your wrist with simple voice commands.

For instance, while walking, just say:

“Remind me to call John at 6 PM,”
or
“Send a WhatsApp message to Mom: I’ll be home by 8.”

3. Notification Access & Summarisation

No need to read long emails or messages on a small screen. Gemini can summarise notifications, emails, and messages to save time. Additionally, you can ask it to provide directions without opening maps on your phone.

4. Memory Recall

Forgot where you parked your car or your gym locker combination? Gemini AI allows you to save personal notes and recall them instantly with a quick query.

Example: “Where did I park today?” or “What is my locker code?”

5. Gmail and Calendar Integration

Gemini syncs seamlessly with Gmail and Google Calendar, ensuring your reminders, events, and emails are always accessible on your wearable. All permissions for data access are managed through the Gemini app on your connected smartphone, giving you full control.

Circle to Search with AI Comes to Android and iOS

Alongside Gemini’s smartwatch expansion, Google also announced the global rollout of Circle to Search with AI mode. Users in India and the US will be able to use this intuitive feature via:

• Long-pressing on Android devices

• Google Lens on both Android and iOS

This feature allows you to circle text or images on-screen to get instant AI-powered insights, summaries, or search results.

Pricing and Availability

Here is a quick snapshot of the latest device launches and Gemini AI availability:

Why This Matters: The Future of Wearable AI

Google’s strategic expansion of Gemini AI to smartwatches is not just a feature update – it signals the beginning of ambient AI, where assistance flows across devices seamlessly. Wearables are ideal for AI integration because:

• They are always accessible
• They provide hands-free interaction
• They can process contextual data (location, activity, health) for smarter suggestions

This will greatly benefit professionals, students, fitness enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to stay organised without pulling out their phone every few minutes.

Challenges Ahead

While Gemini AI promises a futuristic smartwatch experience, some challenges remain:

• Battery drain: Always-on AI features can impact smartwatch battery life, which is already a limitation in current models.

• Privacy concerns: Continuous access to personal data requires robust privacy policies and user trust.

• Hardware limitations: Older smartwatches might struggle to run resource-intensive AI features smoothly.

However, with Google’s optimisation and powerful processors like the new Exynos and Snapdragon wearable chips, these hurdles can be managed effectively.

Final Thoughts

With Gemini AI coming to your wrist, smartwatches are no longer just for tracking steps and reading notifications. They’re evolving into intelligent companions that manage your life proactively, save your time, and enhance productivity.

The Galaxy Watch 8 series will set the benchmark, but soon users of Pixel, Oppo, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and other Wear OS devices will experience this AI revolution.

As the world embraces generative AI across devices, Google’s Gemini AI on Wear OS smartwatches is a bold step towards true ambient computing, where assistance is everywhere you are.