Google didn’t spend any time talking about Android or teasing Pixels at this year’s annual I/O developer conference.
Instead, the entirety of the opening keynote was devoted to its AI efforts, primarily through Google Gemini; the multimodal LLM (large language model) it launched in late 2023 that’s now available to users across a myriad of platforms, provided you’re in a country where it’s available.
How to get Google Gemini on your phone
If you’re in a supported country, Google Gemini is free to download from the Google Play Store. However, it’s worth noting that the unpaid tier isn’t available in certain regions, so you’ll have to pay £18.99/$19.99 per month if you want to use the app.
To download it, simply head to the Play Store and search for ‘Google Gemini’ tap ‘Install’ next to the relevant result. It’s only 1.46MB in size, so won’t take long at all.
How to switch back to the Google Assistant
If you want to access Google Assistant-specific features like Routines, you prefer the interface and user experience or simply don’t enjoy the nature of Gemini on-device, it’s easy to switch back. Here’s how:
- Open the Google Gemini app.
- Tap on your Google account profile icon in the top corner of the screen.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap on ‘Digital assistants from Google’ at the bottom of the Gemini settings list.
- Tap on Google Assitant
- Tap ‘Switch’ on the subsequent pop-up prompt.
- You’ll be taken back to your device’s home screen with the Google Assistant reinstated.
How to access Google Gemini on iPhone
Presently, there’s no easy way to get the Google Gemini within Google’s iOS app if you’re not in a supported market, but you can at least make a web app shortcut on your home screen.
- Navigate to gemini.google.com on your iPhone’s web browser.
- Once loaded (also make sure you’re signed in with your Google account), tap iOS’ share icon.
- On the subsequent share card, scroll until you find ‘Add to Home Screen’ and tap that.
- You’ll then be able to tweak the shortcut’s name, before tapping ‘Add’ in the corner of the screen.
- A shortcut to the Google Gemini web app will then live on your iPhone’s home screen.
It’s worth noting that the means by which users interact with Gemini will undoubtedly change over time. Google will look to more tightly integrate the experience on Android and there’s every chance the Google app on iOS will simply be replaced with a standalone Gemini app, but right now the company seems more occupied with building out its AI efforts than making sure EU regulators are happy.
