Disrupted conversation flow

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 88 views

Introduction

The Gemini Multimodal Live API repository's WebSocket Demo App is designed to facilitate seamless conversations between users and the AI system. However, a critical issue has been identified where overlapping audio inputs during user speech cause the app to misinterpret user input. This article delves into the problem, provides steps to reproduce the issue, and highlights the relevant log output.

Problem Description

When using the WebSocket Demo App, there is an issue where audio inputs overlap during user speech. This overlapping causes the app to mistakenly treat parts of the audio response as if they were user responses, thereby disrupting the natural conversation flow. This problem can lead to a range of issues, including:

Misinterpreted user input: The app incorrectly interprets user input, causing the conversation to continue erroneously.
Disrupted conversation flow: The overlapping audio causes the app to treat system responses as user input, disrupting the natural conversation flow.

Steps to Reproduce

To reproduce this issue, follow these steps:

Step 1: Launch the WebSocket Demo App

Launch the WebSocket Demo App from the [generative-ai repository](https://github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/generative-ai/tree/main/gemini/multimodal-live-api/websocket-demo-app).

Step 2: Start a Conversation

Start a conversation by speaking into the microphone.

Step 3: Observe Overlapping Audio

During the conversation, observe that when the user is speaking, overlapping audio (from system responses) is captured concurrently.

Step 4: Notice Misinterpreted User Input

Notice that audio segments received during the overlap are interpreted as user input, which causes the conversation to continue erroneously.

Relevant Log Output

The following log output is relevant to this issue:

# No relevant log output provided

Code Review

A code review of the WebSocket Demo App reveals that the issue is likely caused by the way the app handles overlapping audio inputs. The app's audio processing pipeline is not designed to handle concurrent audio inputs, leading to misinterpreted user input.

Conclusion

The overlapping audio issue in the WebSocket Demo App causes misinterpreted user input, disrupting the natural conversation flow. To resolve this issue, the app's audio processing pipeline needs to be modified to handle concurrent audio inputs correctly. This can be achieved by implementing a more robust audio processing algorithm or by using a library that can handle overlapping audio inputs.

Recommendations

To resolve this issue, the following recommendations are made:

Implement a more robust audio processing algorithm: The app's audio processing pipeline needs to be modified to handle concurrent audio inputs correctly.
Use a library that can handle overlapping audio inputs: Consider using a library that can handle overlapping audio inputs, such as the Web Audio API.
Test the app thoroughly: Thoroughly test the app to ensure that the issue is resolved and the conversation flow is natural.

Code of Conduct

I agree to follow this project's Code of Conduct.

Code of Conduct Checklist

[x] I agree to follow this project's Code of Conduct.

Additional Information

Introduction

The Gemini Multimodal Live API repository's WebSocket Demo App is designed to facilitate seamless conversations between users and the AI system. However, a critical issue has been identified where overlapping audio inputs during user speech cause the app to misinterpret user input. This article provides a Q&A section to address common questions and concerns related to this issue.

Q: What is the cause of the overlapping audio issue in the WebSocket Demo App?

A: The overlapping audio issue in the WebSocket Demo App is caused by the way the app handles concurrent audio inputs. The app's audio processing pipeline is not designed to handle overlapping audio inputs, leading to misinterpreted user input.

Q: How can I reproduce the overlapping audio issue in the WebSocket Demo App?

A: To reproduce the overlapping audio issue in the WebSocket Demo App, follow these steps:

Launch the WebSocket Demo App from the [generative-ai repository](https://github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/generative-ai/tree/main/gemini/multimodal-live-api/websocket-demo-app).
Start a conversation by speaking into the microphone.
During the conversation, observe that when the user is speaking, overlapping audio (from system responses) is captured concurrently.
Notice that audio segments received during the overlap are interpreted as user input, which causes the conversation to continue erroneously.

Q: What are the consequences of the overlapping audio issue in the WebSocket Demo App?

A: The overlapping audio issue in the WebSocket Demo App can lead to a range of issues, including:

Misinterpreted user input: The app incorrectly interprets user input, causing the conversation to continue erroneously.
Disrupted conversation flow: The overlapping audio causes the app to treat system responses as user input, disrupting the natural conversation flow.

Q: How can I resolve the overlapping audio issue in the WebSocket Demo App?

A: To resolve the overlapping audio issue in the WebSocket Demo App, the app's audio processing pipeline needs to be modified to handle concurrent audio inputs correctly. This can be achieved by:

Implementing a more robust audio processing algorithm: The app's audio processing pipeline needs to be modified to handle concurrent audio inputs correctly.
Using a library that can handle overlapping audio inputs: Consider using a library that can handle overlapping audio inputs, such as the Web Audio API.
Testing the app thoroughly: Thoroughly test the app to ensure that the issue is resolved and the conversation flow is natural.

Q: What are the best practices for handling overlapping audio inputs in the WebSocket Demo App?

A: To handle overlapping audio inputs in the WebSocket Demo App, follow these best practices:

Use a library that can handle overlapping audio inputs: Consider using a library that can handle overlapping audio inputs, such as the Web Audio API.
Implement a more robust audio processing algorithm: The app's audio processing pipeline needs to be modified to handle concurrent audio inputs correctly.
Test the app thoroughly: Thoroughly test the app to ensure that the issue is resolved and the conversation flow is natural.

Q: What is the Code of Conduct for this project?

A: The Code of Conduct for this project is as follows:

[x] I agree to follow this project's Code of Conduct.