Google Gemini Upgrades: Always-On AI, Lock Screen Features, and Accuracy Challenges

Google Gemini’s upcoming app upgrades aim to make the conversational AI more seamlessly integrated into users’ daily lives.

Background mode for uninterrupted chats: The Gemini app will allow users to continue their chats while using other apps or even when the screen is locked, ensuring that the AI assistant is always available:

• Users will be able to quickly ask questions or respond to Gemini through a persistent notification at the top of the screen, without having to switch between apps.
• Stopping the conversation will be simple, either by saying “stop” or by tapping on the notification.
• It remains unclear whether users will be able to use speech to communicate with Gemini while using other apps, a feature already available in some competing AI assistants.

Expanded lock screen functionality: Google is working on enabling Gemini to do more when the device is locked, potentially integrating with apps like Messages, Workspace, and Home Automation:

• Currently, Gemini can set alarms and timers while the screen is locked, but most other commands require unlocking the phone.
• The planned “extensions on lock screen” option could make it easier to add relevant information to chats without the need to unlock the device.

Addressing Gemini’s challenges: These upgrades come as Google faces backlash over Gemini’s tendency to report outdated information and the AI Overview feature’s display of false reports as news:

• While Google maintains that strange responses make up only a small percentage of reports, the issue of Gemini providing old or inaccurate information persists.
• The company acknowledges the intense competition from rivals like Apple Intelligence and ChatGPT, which pose significant threats to Gemini’s market position.

Broader implications:
The planned upgrades to the Gemini app represent a step forward in Google’s efforts to make its AI assistant more competitive and user-friendly. However, the company still faces significant challenges in addressing the accuracy and reliability issues that have plagued Gemini. As the AI assistant market continues to evolve rapidly, Google will need to keep innovating and refining its product to maintain its position as a leading player in the field. The success of these upgrades will likely play a crucial role in determining Gemini’s future trajectory and its ability to fend off increasingly capable rivals.