TL;DR
What did thewebguyd use Gemini Live for?
With the phone on a tripod and the camera on, Gemini Live points out and highlights the specific screws and parts on a bike or car and talks you through the repair step by step. They found it "pretty decent" at the vision side and used it for several repairs. Another parent used a Gemini Live video call to find why a kid's science fair electromagnet wasn't working.
What they did
While working on their bike and car, they turned on Gemini Live with the phone camera so it could see the job. They say it circles or highlights specific screws and parts, and with the phone on a tripod it can walk you through a complete repair.
How it went
They found it "pretty decent" at the vision side and used it for several repairs. Another parent used a Gemini Live video call to find why a kid's science fair electromagnet wasn't working.
Worth knowing
- Check torque specs, part numbers and safety steps against the manual. For brakes, electrical or anything safety-critical, have a qualified person check the work.
- Price check: Google Gemini: free plan; Google AI Plus: US$4.99/month (checked Nov 1, 2026).
Try it yourself
Paste this into a chatbot, then add your own details underneath.
(Open Gemini Live, turn on the camera and point it at the job.) "I'm trying to [fix/replace X] on my [bike/car/appliance, make and model]. Look at what you see, name the parts, tell me which tools I need, then walk me through one step at a time and wait until I say 'done' before the next step. Warn me about anything risky."
More people who did this
- takee (Hacker News, Jun 5, 2026): Turned on a Gemini Live video call when a child's science fair electromagnet wouldn't work; it spotted insulation left on the wire where it met the battery.
Original post
See thewebguyd's original post on Hacker News → (Jul 8, 2026)
Sources
- thewebguyd on Hacker News, Jul 8, 2026 — the original post
- Google Gemini pricing — checked Nov 1, 2026