Google has decided to remove its AI assistant, Gemini, from the main Google app on iOS devices. This strategic move aims to incentivize users to download the dedicated Gemini app, thereby enhancing Google’s competitive edge against other consumer-oriented AI chatbots, including ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity. However, this shift may diminish Gemini’s accessibility, as the primary Google app boasts millions of users, many of whom may lack the motivation to install yet another mobile application.
The tech giant communicated this change to users through an email stating, “Gemini is no longer available in the Google app.”
The email prompted anyone still wishing to utilize Gemini on iOS to download the app from the App Store. Although the app was released to global iOS users late last year, Gemini had been accessible via the main Google app until now.
With the Gemini app for iOS, users can engage in voice conversations with the AI assistant through Gemini Live, integrate it with their Google apps like Search, YouTube, Maps, and Gmail; pose questions and delve into various topics; plan excursions; receive AI-generated summaries and detailed analyses; create images; and much more. Interaction with Gemini can occur through text, voice, or camera input.
The email also cautioned users that Gemini is not without its errors, advising them to double-check any responses received.
Users interested in accessing the Gemini Advanced through a paid subscription can also do so via the iOS app, where the Google One AI Premium plan is available as an in-app purchase.
If an iOS user attempts to access Gemini through the primary Google app, a full-screen notification will appear, stating, “Gemini now has its own app” and providing a link to download it from the App Store.
By encouraging users to download a separate app instead of maintaining the functionality in the widely used Google app, Google is taking a considerable risk. While this could facilitate rapid deployment of new AI features, it is likely that some decline in Gemini’s usage will occur as not all users will transition to the new app.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
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