Google Gemini Live

Name: Strands Agents SDK
Author: Strands Agents

The Gemini Live API lets developers create natural conversations by enabling a two-way WebSocket connection with the Gemini models. The Live API processes data streams in real time. Users can barge in with new input while the model is responding, similar to a real conversation. Key features include:

Multimodal Streaming: The API supports streaming of text, audio, and video data.
Bidirectional Interaction: The user and the model can provide input and output at the same time.
Barge-in: Users can speak during the model’s response, and the model adjusts its response.
Tool Use and Function Calling: The API can use external tools to perform actions and get context while maintaining a real-time connection.
Provider Sessions: Maintains conversation context within a Gemini Live session. For SDK session persistence, see Session Management.
Secure Authentication: Uses tokens for secure client-side authentication.

Installation

The Google Gemini Live provider is configured as an optional dependency in Strands Agents.

To install it, run:

pip install 'strands-agents[bidi-google,bidi-io,bidi-pyaudio]'

Or to install all bidirectional streaming providers at once:

pip install 'strands-agents[bidi-all,bidi-pyaudio]'

Usage

After installing the Gemini Live and local audio extras, create a voice agent:

import asyncio

from strands.bidi.agent import BidiAgent
from strands.bidi.io import AudioIO
from strands.bidi.models import GoogleGeminiLiveModel
from strands.vended_tools import notebook


async def main() -> None:
    model = GoogleGeminiLiveModel(
        model_id="gemini-3.8-live",
        voice="Kore",
        client_args={"api_key": "<GOOGLE_API_KEY>"},
    )
    agent = BidiAgent(model=model, tools=[notebook])

    audio_io = AudioIO()
    await agent.run(inputs=[audio_io.input()], outputs=[audio_io.output()])


if __name__ == "__main__":
    asyncio.run(main())

Configuration

Client Options

Pass Google GenAI client options through client_args. For the supported fields, see the Google GenAI client reference.

Model Config

Parameter	Description	Example	Options
`model_id`	Gemini Live model identifier.	`"gemini-3.8-live"`	Gemini models
`audio`	Input audio options.	`{"input": {"sample_rate": 48000}}`	reference
`voice`	Prebuilt output voice name. Uses the provider default when omitted.	`"Kore"`	Voices and languages
`params`	Gemini Live session parameters.	`{"temperature": 0.7}`	`LiveConnectConfig`
`connection`	Restart timing overrides.	`{"auto_reconnect": False}`	reference

Additional Provider Options

Use direct options such as voice for common settings. For additional Google GenAI options, pass params using snake_case field names.

from strands.bidi.models import GoogleGeminiLiveModel

model = GoogleGeminiLiveModel(
    model_id="gemini-3.8-live",
    client_args={"api_key": "<GOOGLE_API_KEY>"},
    voice="Kore",
    params={"temperature": 0.7, "speech_config": {"language_code": "en-US"}},
)

Nested dictionaries in params merge with the existing configuration, preserving unspecified fields. If a setting overlaps with a default or direct option, params takes precedence.

Calling update_config(params=...) replaces the entire params dictionary. The new values take effect on the next start() or restart().

Session Resumption

For connection restarts, the provider resumes the same server-side session through Gemini’s session resumption handle, carrying context across the restart without replaying history. Resumed sessions persist up to 24 hours; after that, create a new GoogleGeminiLiveModel instance to continue the conversation.

Troubleshooting

Module Not Found

If you encounter the error ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'google.genai', this means the google-genai dependency hasn’t been properly installed in your environment. To fix this, run pip install 'strands-agents[bidi-google]'.

API Key Issues

Set your Google AI API key through client_args or the GOOGLE_API_KEY environment variable. You can obtain an API key from Google AI Studio.