Google adds a Hey Gemini wake word to Android XR smart glasses

Google has added a "Hey Gemini" wake word for its AI assistant, the first new always-listening hotword the company has introduced in about ten years, according to 9to5Google. For now it works only on Intelligent Eyewear, the smart glasses that run Android XR.

Wearers can say "Hey Gemini" in place of "Hey Google" to wake the assistant. Android Authority frames the update as support for the latest wake word on these glasses. Both reports say the change is limited to the glasses for now.

The move was widely expected, and some see it as overdue. 9to5Google notes that "Hey Google" is hard to say smoothly, while the new phrase is easier to pronounce. Whatever the wording, the choice of hotword matters less in daily use than the new trigger itself.

Several points remain open. Google has not said whether "Hey Gemini" will become the default on future products. Google did not confirm that both hotwords will be active on the glasses, but 9to5Google says that was implied. Because Samsung's voice assistant is supported on the glasses, "Hey Bixby" may also work when the glasses are paired with Samsung hardware, though 9to5Google says the exact functionality is still unclear.

For owners of smart glasses or other Android XR devices, the practical effect is simple. Check the glasses settings after updates to see which wake words are active. The sources do not describe any setup steps, and readers using other Gemini devices should not expect the same hotword yet.