Tags: smart TV

Samsung is rolling out Vision AI Companion, an upgraded, generative‑AI version of its Bixby assistant, across its 2025 television lineup. The feature lets users ask natural‑language questions about on‑screen content and receive visual answers, while also offering recommendations, cooking tips, travel advice, and local restaurant suggestions. Powered by a mix of Microsoft Copilot, Perplexity and other models, it supports ten languages and integrates with Samsung’s broader AI ecosystem, including picture‑optimization and real‑time translation tools. The rollout follows an IFA debut in September and reflects Samsung’s strategy to anchor AI experiences in its smart‑TV platform. Weiterlesen

Google is expanding its Gemini AI assistant to the Google TV Streamer, launching Gemini for TV today with a rollout over the coming weeks. The new voice‑controlled feature adds robust AI capabilities, offering personalized viewing suggestions and contextual information about programs. The move follows earlier hints from The Android Show and aligns with recent early‑access releases of Gemini for Home on Google Home devices. Weiterlesen

Perplexity is teaming with Samsung to bring its AI search engine to Samsung smart TVs. The new app is instantly available on 2025‑model sets and will roll out to 2024 and 2023 models later via an OTA update. Users can type or speak queries, and a free 12‑month Pro plan subscription can be claimed through an in‑app QR code. While the partnership expands Perplexity’s reach, the startup has faced criticism and legal challenges over alleged data scraping and copyright infringement. Weiterlesen

Google has begun rolling out its Gemini AI upgrade to select Google TV devices, with early availability on TCL's QM9K model and reports of the feature appearing on Sony Bravia TVs running Android TV 14. The update introduces a new conversational voice interface, a suite of botanical-themed voice options, and expanded capabilities such as answering content queries, summarizing headlines, generating screensavers, locating YouTube clips, and creating images. Google plans to expand Gemini to additional TCL models, upcoming Hisense TVs, the Google TV Streamer, and Walmart's onn 4K Pro streaming box over the coming months. Weiterlesen

Amazon has introduced Alexa Plus, an upgraded voice assistant designed for Fire TV hardware. The new service aims to reduce the need for phones by delivering context‑sensitive information while users watch movies, TV shows, and live sports. Alexa Plus enhances Amazon's X‑Ray feature, supports scene searches, provides actor bios, and shares real‑time scores and stats. It will be available on the latest Fire TV 2‑ and 4‑series, the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, and select Panasonic and Hisense models, with broader support expected later. Weiterlesen

Amazon announced a new family of Fire TVs, including a brighter Omni QLED model, and refreshed Fire TV 2 and Fire TV 4 series. The devices incorporate "omnisense" presence detection that powers the TV on when it senses a viewer, and Alexa Plus for remote‑free voice control. Sizes range from 32‑inch to 75‑inch, with pricing that starts under $160 for the entry‑level model and climbs to just under $480 for the 50‑inch QLED. Pre‑orders begin immediately with shipments slated for the following month, positioning Amazon to compete more directly with premium TV manufacturers. Weiterlesen

Amazon unveiled a fresh range of Fire TV hardware, highlighting the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, billed as the fastest streaming stick under $40. The lineup also includes the premium Fire TV Omni QLED Series starting at $480, and updated 2-series and 4-series models priced from $160 to $330. New features such as Dialog Boost, Omnisense auto‑on, and a Linux‑based Vega OS for the stick aim to improve user experience while encouraging adoption of Amazon’s Alexa+ subscription service. Weiterlesen

Telly provides a free 55‑inch 4K TV that includes a lower 10‑inch secondary display dedicated to ads, widgets, and a built‑in AI news anchor. Users must keep the device online and use it as their main television, or risk a return fee. The dual‑screen design constantly shows video ads, weather, stock tickers and a rotating news segment powered by an AI likeness of a TV personality. While the TV offers a soundbar, RGB lighting and a built‑in camera, privacy concerns arise from data collection about viewing habits and physical presence. Reviewers note decent picture quality but a cumbersome software experience and relentless advertising. Weiterlesen

LG has introduced the Easy TV, a senior‑focused smart television that debuts in South Korea. The set offers a simplified home screen with larger fonts, a reduced app lineup, and picture and sound settings optimized for older viewers. A redesigned remote includes a help button, voice‑activated AI search and larger labeling. Built‑in reminders can prompt users to take medication or perform other tasks, and a camera enables video calls with family. LG plans to eventually bring the model to other markets with aging demographics, though no timeline has been announced. Weiterlesen

Google TV now includes Gemini AI on the TCL QM9K, offering conversational voice searches, AI‑generated screensavers, and a presence sensor that powers on the TV automatically. The feature will later arrive via update on other TCL models and on upcoming Hisense 2025 U8, U7 and UX TVs, as well as on the Google TV Streamer and Walmart Onn 4K Pro box. Gemini lets users ask TV‑related questions, rank movies, get museum details, and even create custom artwork, turning the TV into a more interactive entertainment hub. Weiterlesen

Google is bringing its Gemini AI to televisions, beginning with TCL's QM9K series. Unlike the existing Google Assistant, Gemini offers full conversational interactions, helping users discover content, summarize shows, and answer educational questions. The rollout signals a broader push for AI-driven living‑room experiences, with competitors like Microsoft, Samsung, LG, and Amazon also advancing their own smart‑TV assistants. Weiterlesen

TCL has introduced its QM9K series QD‑Mini LED TVs, which run Google TV and are the first TCL models to integrate Google’s Gemini AI. The TVs also feature a built‑in mmWave presence sensor that can detect a viewer’s proximity to turn the screen on or off and display contextual screensavers. The 65‑inch model is priced at $2,999 at Best Buy, with larger sizes available at higher price points. Gemini enables conversational queries and follow‑up questions, positioning TCL’s new lineup as a direct competitor to other smart‑TV offerings that incorporate motion detection. Weiterlesen

Google announced that its Gemini AI assistant is being integrated into Google TV and Android TV platforms, allowing users to have natural language conversations with the AI on their televisions. The rollout begins with the TCL QM9K series and will later extend to additional devices, including models from Hisense, Walmart, and future TCL releases. Gemini can help viewers choose content, answer show‑related questions, assist with homework, plan trips, and more, while preserving existing Google Assistant functionality. Weiterlesen

Google has rolled out its Gemini AI assistant to Google TV, debuting on TCL’s new QM9K series televisions. The integration adds free‑flowing conversational capabilities to the existing voice commands, allowing users to ask for show recommendations, explanations, recipes and more. Gemini will also appear on other Google TV devices later in the year, including the Google TV Streamer 4K, Walmart Onn 4K Pro, and select 2025 models from Hisense and TCL. Competitors Samsung and LG are set to launch Microsoft’s Copilot AI on their upcoming smart TVs. Weiterlesen

Roku executives say the company will dramatically widen its advertising ecosystem by tapping generative AI to enable thousands of small and medium‑sized businesses to create and place TV ads on its platform. The strategy moves beyond the traditional top advertisers, aiming to bring hundreds of thousands of new brands to streaming. Roku’s self‑serve tools, powered by AI, promise rapid ad creation, while competitors such as Magnite are also expanding AI‑driven ad solutions. The push could reshape how local businesses reach viewers on connected‑TV devices. Weiterlesen

TCL previewed its new flagship QM9K mini‑LED TV, highlighting several first‑of‑its‑kind features. The television runs Google TV with Gemini, an AI assistant that enables conversational searches and content creation. Audio is powered by Dolby FlexConnect, a wireless speaker details system that automates placement and calibration. The QM9K also boasts record‑breaking brightness, a ZeroBorder edge‑to‑edge display, and gaming‑ready specs like 144 Hz variable refresh rate. TCL says the TV will reach U.S. retailers later this month. Weiterlesen

Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant is rolling out on select Samsung TVs and monitors, offering voice‑driven searches, episode recaps, and personalized movie suggestions. The feature appears as an animated on‑screen presence that can also answer weather and weekend‑plan questions. While the tool aims to simplify navigating the crowded streaming landscape, critics argue that adding a conversational partner to a television feels intrusive and may not improve the viewing experience. The rollout revives memories of earlier Microsoft assistants and raises questions about how much AI interaction users truly want on their screens. Weiterlesen