Google has announced three substantial updates to its Gemini-powered products that address user demands and expand global accessibility. The changes include audio file support in the Gemini app, five new language options in Google Search’s AI Mode, and enhanced report generation capabilities in NotebookLM.
Audio Files Come to Gemini App After User Pressure
The Gemini app now accepts audio files. A feature Josh Woodward, vice president of Google Labs and Gemini, called the “#1 request” from users. This addition puts Gemini in direct competition with other AI assistants that already support audio input.
Free Gemini users can upload audio files up to 10 minutes long, with a daily limit of five prompts. Users who subscribe to AI Pro or AI Ultra plans can process audio files lasting up to three hours. All Gemini prompts support up to 10 files across various formats, including files compressed within ZIP archives.
The audio support arrives months after competitors established similar features. ChatGPT has offered voice conversations through its Advanced Voice Mode, while other AI platforms have integrated audio processing capabilities. Google’s delayed entry into audio file processing shows the company playing catch-up in this particular feature race.
Google Search AI Mode Speaks Five New Languages
Google Search’s AI Mode expanded to support Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, and Brazilian Portuguese. This expansion uses a custom version of Gemini 2.5 that brings advanced multimodal and reasoning capabilities to these languages.
The company emphasizes that building global search requires more than translation. Google’s approach focuses on understanding local information nuances to make AI search capabilities relevant and useful in each supported language. Users in these regions can now ask complex questions in their preferred language while exploring web content more thoroughly.
This multilingual expansion represents Google’s strategy to compete globally against other AI-powered search tools and maintain its search dominance as AI reshapes how people find information online.
NotebookLM Gets Smarter Report Generation
Google’s NotebookLM receives an update that transforms how users create reports from uploaded documents and media. The AI-powered research tool now generates reports in multiple formats across over 80 languages, including study guides, briefing documents, blog posts, flashcards, and quizzes.
Users can customize the structure, tone, and style of generated reports based on their uploaded files. The feature builds on NotebookLM’s existing audio overview capability, which creates podcast-style summaries of research materials.
Google plans to make this feature “100% available”, according to company communications. The update positions NotebookLM as a comprehensive research assistant that can adapt content presentation to different learning and communication needs.
User Impact and Accessibility Gains
The language expansion in Google Search AI Mode will affect millions of users who prefer interacting with AI in their native languages. Hindi alone represents over 600 million speakers globally, while the combined speaker base for all five new languages exceeds one billion people.
The NotebookLM report generation updates target students, researchers, and professionals who need to process and present information in various formats. The ability to generate customized reports in over 80 languages removes language barriers from AI-assisted research and content creation.
These updates reflect Google’s broader strategy of making AI tools more accessible and useful for diverse global audiences while maintaining competitive pressure on rival AI platforms.
