Google Gemini adds support for downloading audio files

Google has expanded the capabilities of its Gemini artificial intelligence by adding the ability to upload audio files, writes Android Police. Previously, Google's chatbot only worked with images, PDF documents and videos, but now it will be able to process audio files as well.

The launch of the new option was announced by Josh Woodward, vice president of Google Labs and Gemini, calling it "the #1 request" from users. The function is already available on Android, iOS and in the web version. MP3, WAV and other common audio formats are supported. Downloading is done via the standard "Download files" button.

There is a limit for free plan users: you can transfer up to 10 files at a time, but the total duration of all audio recordings must not exceed 10 minutes. Users of the paid Gemini Advanced plans (AI Pro or AI Ultra) get a much higher limit - up to three hours of audio.

For comparison, video files are limited to five minutes in the free version, and one hour in the paid version. Thus, for audio, the free limit is twice as large, and in the paid plans it is three times larger.

The addition of this feature brings Gemini closer to competitors, including OpenAI's ChatGPT, which has supported audio upload and transcription for several months.