Google’s Gemini AI literally gets a brand new update on Android phones
Following the big Google Gemini AI teasers at Made By Google – where we also saw the Google Pixel 9 and six other new Google devices – Gemini has just gotten an update that’s rolling out to older Android devices.
This update was announced at Google I/O with the promise that Gemini’s reactions wouldn’t take up your entire screen. Instead, it now automatically appears as a glowing overlay that’s less distracting (via 9to5GoogleIn addition to the new look, there are new tools, like the ability to ask for context about what’s happening in the video you’re watching on YouTube or generally on your screen.
It’s not as advanced as what the brand new Gemini Live has to offer, but this feature is available to all Gemini users, regardless of whether they have free access or a Gemini Advanced subscription (unlike Live, which is paid).
If you still prefer the full-screen Gemini experience, it’s just a button press away. You can tap the icon in the upper-right corner of the prompt box to switch the assistant to full-screen mode.
Your Gemini experience should now be updating automatically, with this update rolling out to phones gradually. So if you don’t see a glowing Gemini prompt box yet, you may have to wait a little longer. If it makes you feel any better, our devices haven’t been updated yet, but many online have, so hopefully we won’t have to wait much longer.
You should also soon get Gemini contextual extensions for apps like Calendar and Tasks “in the coming weeks,” according to Google. This will allow the AI to use information from all of your Google services to provide more sophisticated responses, seen in the live Made by Google prompt where someone can ask Gemini if they’re free when Sabria Carpenter’s tour is coming to their city.
More Gemini updates will be rolling out to our devices in the coming months, so stay tuned. This long-promised AI revolution finally seems to be arriving in full force, with AI assistants that actually feel helpful.
