Google’s game-changing “Project Astra” live camera and screen sharing AI features are slated to roll out this month, and at least one user now claims to already have access to these powerful new functions in Gemini Live, the company’s live AI chatbot.
Two main features have now been seen in the wild, as revealed in a recent Reddit post by a user who gained early access to them on their Xiaomi smartphone.
The first, Google’s new “Share Screen With Live” feature, allows Gemini to observe everything happening on your screen in real time. It’s like letting an expert friend watch your screen as you use your device so they can provide help.
However, perhaps even more impressive is the new “Gemini Live With Video” function that gives Gemini a live video feed directly from your smartphone’s camera. Once Gemini Live With Video is activated, Gemini can engage in natural two-way conversation with you about what it sees. You can ask anything you like about the scene, and Gemini will answer your questions in real time.
Google first announced the features as part of the company’s “Project Astra” initiative at Google I/O in May 2024, later announcing the rollout for March 2025. However, the features still aren’t yet generally available to the public.
Google Gemini — Project Astra Seen In The Wild
However, one lucky user recently discovered that both Share Screen With Live and Gemini Live With Video had been enabled on their Xiaomi device before posting their findings on Reddit.
According to the Reddit post, this particular user is using a standard version of the Gemini app and isn’t participating in any beta programs. This implies that Google is selecting a small group of users as early testers based on unknown criteria and enabling the options remotely.
As detailed in the Reddit post, you can use Share Screen With Live to share either your entire screen or just a single app with Gemini, although the “single app” version isn’t currently functional. The same user later confirmed that they could start a Gemini Live With Video session, sharing their camera feed with Gemini Live.
The post goes on to confirm that, as expected, only Gemini Advanced users will have access to Project Astra features. After switching to a non-paying Google account, the Project Asta features disappeared.
Google Gemini — Do You Have Access To Project Astra?
If you have Gemini Advanced, look for the new features next time you use Gemini Live. If available, Share Screen With Live will appear as an option near the bottom of the screen, above the “Ask about screen.” Gemini Live With Video is activated via new control buttons at the bottom of the screen, along with another button to switch between front and rear cameras. A phone-call-style notification is displayed when using Project Astra features to ensure users won’t forget they are sharing their screen or camera with Google’s AI.
Google Gemini — Project Astra In Action
If you want to see Project Astra in action, Google has already provided short demos of Gemini Live With Video and Share Screen With Live.
The video above demonstrates Google’s Gemini Live With Video feature in which the user points her camera at a selection of colored ceramic tiles before asking Gemini to advise on the best color selection to give her pieces a “mid-century modern look.” Gemini is then able to select an appropriate olive green colored tile and point it out as “the first one on the left in the second row.”
In this second example, the user shares their screen with Gemini while browsing an online clothing store. She then asks Gemini to recommend garments to pair with the ones on screen to form a complete outfit. Gemini is then able to engage in conversation about the advantages of potential options.
Project Astra is a game-changing addition to Gemini that could radically change how we use our smartphones to help us in our daily lives. However, reserving it for paying Google One AI Premium subscribers will place it beyond the reach of many customers. On the other hand, those free Gemini Advanced promotions, such as those offered with new Pixel and Galaxy S25-series smartphones, just got much more valuable.
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