/gemini-live-api-dev

name: gemini-live-api-dev
description: Use this skill when building real-time, bidirectional streaming applications with the Gemini Live API. Covers WebSocket-based audio/video/text streaming, voice activity detection (VAD), native audio features, function calling, session management, ephemeral tokens for client-side auth, live translation, and all Live API configuration options. SDKs covered - google-genai (Python), @google/genai (JavaScript/TypeScript).

Gemini Live API Development Skill

Overview

The Live API enables **low-latency, real-time voice and video interactions** with Gemini over WebSockets. It processes continuous streams of audio, video, or text to deliver immediate, human-like spoken responses.

Key capabilities:

• **Bidirectional audio streaming** — real-time mic-to-speaker conversations
• **Video streaming** — send camera/screen frames alongside audio
• **Text input/output** — send and receive text within a live session
• **Audio transcriptions** — get text transcripts of both input and output audio
• **Voice Activity Detection (VAD)** — automatic interruption handling
• **Native audio** — thinking (with configurable `thinkingLevel`)
• **Function calling** — synchronous tool use
• **Google Search grounding** — ground responses in real-time search results
• **Session management** — context compression, session resumption, GoAway signals
• **Ephemeral tokens** — secure client-side authentication

> [!NOTE] > The Live API currently **only supports WebSockets**. For WebRTC support or simplified integration, use a [partner integration](#partner-integrations).

Models

• `gemini-3.1-flash-live-preview` — Optimized for low-latency, real-time dialogue. Native audio output, thinking (via `thinkingLevel`). 128k context window. **This is the recommended model for all Live API use cases.**
• `gemini-3.5-transcribe-live` — Real-time streaming speech-to-text with interim hypotheses, finalized transcripts, smart formatting, and Hybrid VAD.
• `gemini-3.5-live-translate-preview` — Real-time streaming translation model.

> [!WARNING] > The following Live API models are **deprecated** and will be shut down. Migrate to `gemini-3.1-flash-live-preview`. > - `gemini-2.5-flash-native-audio-preview-12-2025` — Migrate to `gemini-3.1-flash-live-preview`. > - `gemini-live-2.5-flash-preview` — Released June 17, 2025. Shutdown: December 9, 2025. > - `gemini-2.0-flash-live-001` — Released April 9, 2025. Shutdown: December 9, 2025.

SDKs

• **Python**: `google-genai` — `pip install google-genai`
• **JavaScript/TypeScript**: `@google/genai` — `npm install @google/genai`

> [!WARNING] > Legacy SDKs `google-generativeai` (Python) and `@google/generative-ai` (JS) are deprecated. Use the new SDKs above.

Partner Integrations

To streamline real-time audio/video app development, use a third-party integration supporting the Gemini Live API over **WebRTC** or **WebSockets**:

• [LiveKit](https://docs.livekit.io/agents/models/realtime/plugins/gemini/) — Use the Gemini Live API with LiveKit Agents.
• [Pipecat by Daily](https://docs.pipecat.ai/guides/features/gemini-live) — Create a real-time AI chatbot using Gemini Live and Pipecat.
• [Fishjam by Software Mansion](https://docs.fishjam.io/tutorials/gemini-live-integration) — Create live video and audio streaming applications with Fishjam.
• [Vision Agents by Stream](https://visionagents.ai/integrations/gemini) — Build real-time voice and video AI applications with Vision Agents.
• [Voximplant](https://voximplant.com/products/gemini-client) — Connect inbound and outbound calls to Live API with Voximplant.
• [Firebase AI SDK](https://firebase.google.com/docs/ai-logic/live-api?api=dev) — Get started with the Gemini Live API using Firebase AI Logic.

Audio Formats

• **Input**: Raw PCM, little-endian, 16-bit, mono. 16kHz native (will resample others). MIME type: `audio/pcm;rate=16000`
• **Output**: Raw PCM, little-endian, 16-bit, mono. 24kHz sample rate.

> [!IMPORTANT] > Use `send_realtime_input` / `sendRealtimeInput` for all real-time user input (audio, video, **and text**). `send_client_content` / `sendClientContent` is **only** supported for seeding initial context history (requires setting `initial_history_in_client_content` in `history_config`). Do **not** use it to send new user messages during the conversation.

> [!WARNING] > Do **not** use `media` in `sendRealtimeInput`. Use the specific keys: `audio` for audio data, `video` for images/video frames, and `text` for text input.

---

Quick Start

Authentication

Python

from google import genai

client = genai.Client(api_key="YOUR_API_KEY")

JavaScript

import { GoogleGenAI } from '@google/genai';

const ai = new GoogleGenAI({ apiKey: 'YOUR_API_KEY' });

Connecting to the Live API

Python

from google.genai import types

config = types.LiveConnectConfig(
    response_modalities=[types.Modality.AUDIO],
    system_instruction=types.Content(
        parts=[types.Part(text="You are a helpful assistant.")]
    )
)

async with client.aio.live.connect(model="gemini-3.1-flash-live-preview", config=config) as session:
    pass  # Session is active

JavaScript

const session = await ai.live.connect({
  model: 'gemini-3.1-flash-live-preview',
  config: {
    responseModalities: ['audio'],
    systemInstruction: { parts: [{ text: 'You are a helpful assistant.' }] }
  },
  callbacks: {
    onopen: () => console.log('Connected'),
    onmessage: (response) => console.log('Message:', response),
    onerror: (error) => console.error('Error:', error),
    onclose: () => console.log('Closed')
  }
});

Sending Text

Python

await session.send_realtime_input(text="Hello, how are you?")

JavaScript

session.sendRealtimeInput({ text: 'Hello, how are you?' });

Sending Audio

Python

await session.send_realtime_input(
    audio=types.Blob(data=chunk, mime_type="audio/pcm;rate=16