Overview: Gemini expands on Google TV
At CES 2026, Google showcased how its Gemini AI will bring more than voice commands to Google TV, expanding into practical photo editing tasks directly from the living room. The update builds on last year’s demonstrations, bringing a fuller set of AI-assisted editing tools to the TV interface. The idea is simple: let users craft, perfect, and customize images without switching devices or software.
What the Gemini-powered editor can do
The demonstration focused on an integrated AI editor that can perform common and nuanced edits with natural language prompts. Users can describe the changes they want, and Gemini translates those requests into concrete actions—adjusting lighting, color balance, cropping, object removal, and even artistic filters. The goal is to enable quick touchups for family photos and social-sharing images while watching TV, without needing a PC or mobile app nearby.
Natural language controls
One of the standout features is the ability to issue conversational commands. Phrases like “make the sky bluer,” “smooth skin slightly,” or “crop to portrait with the subject centered” are all designed to work smoothly through the TV’s remote or voice input. This lowers the barrier for casual editors who may not be familiar with professional photo-editing software.
On-device processing and privacy
Google emphasized that many edits can be processed locally on the TV to reduce latency and maintain privacy. This approach minimizes uploads to cloud servers, a concern for users who value data security in smart home ecosystems. For more complex edits, it’s possible that a secure cloud path is used with user consent and clear data handling policies.
Integration with the Google TV ecosystem
The Gemini editor is designed to be a seamless extension of the Google TV experience. Edited images can be saved to a user’s Google Photos library or shared directly to supported apps on the TV. The editor also benefits from Google’s ongoing work to connect Assistant, search, and media apps, so users can find and refine visuals in the same interface they use for streaming, gaming, and browsing.
What this means for creators and families
For creators, the feature offers a quick draft-and-share workflow: capture a moment on a connected camera, bring it into the living room, and polish it using Gemini without toggling devices. Families can use it for holiday cards, event recaps, or casual social posts, transforming the TV into a creative hub rather than a passive display.
Looking ahead: potential expansions
As Gemini evolves, Google could extend editing capabilities to video trailers, slideshows, and style transfers for home content. Cross-device features—like starting an edit on Google TV and finishing on a phone or tablet—could further streamline the editing process across the user’s ecosystem. CES has positioned Gemini as a unifying AI layer that connects Google’s hardware and software at scale.
Bottom line
Google TV’s Gemini-powered photo editing at CES 2026 signals a shift toward more capable, living-room-friendly AI tools. By combining natural language controls, on-device processing, and tight ecosystem integration, Google aims to turn the TV into a practical creative workstation for everyday image editing and sharing.
