Date:
December 04, 2024
The Utilities extension of the Gemini app is now witnessing wider availability for Android smartphone users across the world.
Google is advancing towards integrating its flagship Gemini app with more Android smartphone services. The tech giant began rolling out Gemini app’s ‘Utilities’ extension last week, but its widespread rollout is happening now across Android devices. After the rollout finishes, Gemini will stop using Google Assistant fallbacks to perform basic tasks like turning the flashlight on/off.
Users who want to see the difference in how Gemini works without utilizing Google Assistant can take the following steps to ensure it is completely disconnected from the AI chatbot:
Launch the Gemini app, open the multitasking window, tap the app info icon, and force stop Google Assistant. Doing this will make sure that Google Assistant is completely turned off at the OS end.
For devices that have already received the rollout, forcing the Google Assistant to stop working will bring the ‘Utilities’ extension to the Gemini app’s extensions list at the bottom. It will enabled by default and can be turned off in a click as well.
Users can now instruct the Gemini app to perform the following tasks even when the screen is locked:
- Set and silence alarms.
- Set and stop timers.
- Turn features like Flashlight, Bluetooth, Do Not Disturb, and Battery Saver on/off.
- Check the volume and battery level of your device.
- Powering off and restarting your device.
- Click a photo or take a screenshot.
- Control media actions like pausing or replaying videos.
The new Gemini app controls can even take up multiple actions at once. For example, turning the volume down while turning on the battery saver can happen with one voice prompt to the Gemini AI Utilities extension.
Users are already applauding this move by Google much before the rollout will showcase on-ground differences to the masses. The company also announced that it will be rolling out more features in the Utilities extension to make voice-based AI functions more advanced, conversational, and easier to comprehend. It will also add more functions like opening Google Maps and sharing the route details while the phone screen is locked.
