The Gemini app on Android will soon have more options for controlling your device. Google is developing extensions that allow you to make calls, take photos, and manage smart home devices through the AI assistant.
According to AndroidAuthority, which discovered data in the Google app code, six new extensions will be added to Gemini. These include Google Home, Phone, and Utilities, which have not yet been officially announced. The previously announced Agenda, Keep, and Tasks add-ons will also be part of the new extensions.
Gemini will be able to call, take photos, and control the house
The original article also previews how each new feature will look on Gemini. For Google Home, the AI assistant will allow you to control lamps and switches, with prompts to turn lights on or off in a room or adjust the temperature.
The Phone extension will enable you to initiate calls directly from a conversation with the AI. While there aren’t any specific examples of prompts yet, it’s expected to function similarly to the old Google Assistant, where you could ask the app to call a contact.
Lastly, the utility add-on will let Gemini perform basic device tasks, such as taking photos, opening apps, or adjusting the volume, all without needing to open another application.
These features are still under development, and there is no expected release date for the Android app yet.
Gemini with the face of an assistant
These potential new features could bring many of the functions from the old Google Assistant to Gemini, addressing a gap that’s existed since Gemini launched for Android. Previously, users had to choose between using Gemini for generative AI or sticking with the old assistant for voice control.
The new extensions might mark a shift from Google Assistant to making Gemini the main AI for Android, combining its advanced AI capabilities with functions for managing your device.
