Google Integrates Gemini AI into Android's Text Selection Menu for Instant Queries

Google is working on a Gemini-powered text selection menu

Summary An APK teardown of the Google app by Android Authority discovered an 'Ask Gemini' feature in the text selection menu. The feature allows users to instantly query Gemini for more information about the selected text. The availability of the 'Ask Gemini' feature is not confirmed yet, but it could be a useful addition to accessing Gemini. Google's Gemini AI is everywhere. It's in emails, photos, and maps. You can find it in spreadsheets and when browsing the web. Soon, it will even be available when you select text on your Android device . Related Google Gemini: Everything you need to know about Google's next-gen multimodal AI Google Gemini is here, with a whole new approach to multimodal AI Posts The feature was spotted in an APK teardown of the Google app (via Android Authority). Version 16.8.31.sa.arm64 beta has a feature that allows users to instantly query Gemini when highlighting text. It didn't actually work when Android Authority put it to the test, but it shows where Google's thinking is. Here's how 'Ask Gemini' will work when selecting text Source: Android Authority We imagine the feature will be useful, and allow for an instant query when we highlight some text. It will work like this: Select text anywhere, such as from a web page or a note. Tap the three-dot menu in the text selection pop-up. Choose 'Ask Gemini.' Gemini will then give you more information about the selected text. The feature should work across browsers, including Firefox, as well as any other apps that use Android's default text selection menu. However, some apps use custom selection tools, so it may not be supported everywhere. When will this become available? This is another way to access Gemini, although admittedly, this one could actually prove useful. It is similar to Circle to Search, which lets users highlight parts of their screen to get contextual information from AI. It is also like the screen-sharing capabilities for Gemini that were announced at MWC 2025, where users can ask the AI about what's on their screen. The Ask Gemini feature in text selection is not publicly available right now. There's no official word on when it will roll out. It could appear in a future update to either the Google app or the Android system UI, given that Google is already testing it in beta. There are a lot of ways to use Gemini. It is one of the most dynamic LLMs on the market right now. This is a small but meaningful addition, and could make Gemini more useful for people who don't have a phone with Circle to Search capabilities .

Accessing Gemini may soon be as easy as simply selecting text (APK teardown)

Our testing found that it works fine in browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Samsung Internet. From Circle to Search to Gemini Live, there are plenty of ways to use Google's AI to learn more about a subject. And it looks like we could soon have one more way to access the LLM on Android. While investigating the Google app (version 16.8.31.sa.arm64 beta), we discovered that you can now select text and ask Gemini about it. To do this, all you need to do is simply select some text you have a question about, tap on the vertical three dots in the text selection menu, and you'll see the option to "Ask Gemini." Just as you would expect, tapping on Ask Gemini will open the chatbot up to provide you with results based on the text you picked. The feature seemed to work fine in the browsers we tested it on, including Chrome, Firefox, and Samsung Internet. It should work in most apps, but since not all apps use the same text selection menu, we can't say if it will work in every app. You can see how it all works in the video below. This functionality has yet to be rolled out. But when it does, should make it much easier to search for something directly from whatever app you have open. In related news, Google demoed new live video and screen-sharing capabilities for Gemini at MWC 2025. Google says that these two features will become available for Gemini Advanced users later this month.