Google Introduces Gemini To iOS: Bringing 'Your AI Assistant From Google' To Apple

Chrome, supercharged with AI

It was quiet, until something disrupted the peace.

AI was mostly the thing for researchers and enthusiasts. But since OpenAI introduced ChatGPT, others began to realize how lucrative this Large Language model can be. What soon followed, is an arms race that involves tech companies, large and small, that compete for supremacy.

Google is one of the biggest players in tech, experienced a "code red" that forced its two founders back to the office.

Bard was born, and was then reborn as Gemini.

It was exclusive to Google's products and services, before Google finally give it a go to the web.

And this time, Google is bringing Gemini to its main rival in mobile industry.

Gemini is finally making its appearance on Apple's App Store.

In the AI chatbot world, ubiquity is everything.

As long as that matters, Google has it all. The brand is everywhere on the web, and is almost synonymous with the internet itself. From its search engine to its various productivity apps, to Android and lots more, it's safe to say that no tech companies can rival Google in these realms.

But when it comes to Apple, the tech company is a different animal.

Apple has what it calls Apple Intelligence, and it's already gaining cult following. But the product is a still a far cry to Gemini.

And this is where Google is playing its cards.

By building Gemini and introducing it to the App Store, Google wants to make sure that its generative AI tool, and its brand, is right in front of people's face as often as possible, even when those people aren't fond of Google other products.

With Google's new Gemini app for iOS, which quietly hit the App Store around the world, the app is introduced as a free-to-use app that is both simple and straightforward.

Upon opening the app, users will see a chat window, and a list of their previous chats. That's it.

Users can interact with the AI using text, voice or camera, and doing so will have the AI respond with answers.

In all, the Gemini iOS app is identical to the Gemini on the web, and the Gemini on the Google app.

Read: Google Prepares To Replace Google Assistant With Gemini, Using the 'Utilities' Extension

But what's unique here in the Gemini app, is that it has Gemini Live, which is a feature that makes the AI more interactive and conversational.

The feature is similar to ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode.

Gemini Live has been available on Android for a few weeks, but this is the first place it has been usable outside of that.

It's worth noting that Gemini is not native to iOS, and in many ways, is restricted into what it's capable of.

Just like all other non-Siri chatbots, Gemini cannot change anything in the Settings page, or have access to other apps.

It can however access other apps, which continues to be Gemini’s big advantage.

For example, users can ask Gemini to play music and it will do so by opening YouTube Music. Users can ask direction, and it will respond through Google Maps.

This is only a fraction of what it can do on Android.

Published: 
15/11/2024