Google Removes Gemini from iOS Search App, Pushes Users to Standalone AI Application

Google Removes Gemini From iOS: What's Next for Google AI?

Navigating Change: Google Pushes iOS Users to Download Standalone Gemini App In a shocking twist in its mobile strategy, Google has officially removed the Gemini AI feature from its flagship iOS app. The action has been polarizing among users and tech whizzes alike on what it portends for and what it implies for the future of artificial intelligence on the mobile platform. In this article, we shall address the logic behind this decision, its implications on users, and what the future holds for Google AI.

Google pulls Gemini from its iOS search app, driving users toward standalone AI app

Google really wants you to download its Gemini app. The tech giant is pulling the AI tool from its iOS search app -- you know, the Google app -- in an apparent effort to push you to the Gemini app. The tech giant alerted customers to the change in an email. It read, in part, via 9to5 Google: "We're making some changes to create an even better Gemini experience on iOS. Gemini is now available as its own app, and that's now the best place to use Gemini. To continue using Gemini, download the new Gemini app from the App Store. With the Gemini app, you'll have access to all of the same features and more." If an iOS user tries to access Gemini in the Google app, they're greeted with a message reading, "Gemini now has its own app" and a button to download the standalone app. Obviously, the Google app is widely used, so it's interesting that the tech giant would want to push users to Gemini's standalone app. But for better or worse, if you want to use Google's AI tool, you better download its app.

Google pulls Gemini from main search app on iOS | TechCrunch

Google is pulling its AI assistant Gemini from the main Google app for iOS devices. The move is meant to encourage users to download the standalone Gemini app instead, which would allow Google to more directly compete with other consumer-facing AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity. However, the change could also risk reducing Gemini's reach as Google's app is already used by millions, and many are not motivated enough to download other new mobile applications. The tech giant alerted customers to the change via an email that warned "Gemini is no longer available in the Google app." The email suggested that anyone who wanted to still use Gemini on iOS download the Gemini app from the App Store. That app launched to iOS users worldwide late last year, but up until now, Gemini continued to be available within the main Google app, too. With Gemini for iOS, people will be able to engage in voice conversations with the AI assistant through Gemini Live; connect their Google apps like Search, YouTube, Maps, and Gmail to Gemini; ask questions and explore topics; plan trips; get AI summaries and deep dives; create images; and more. Users can interact with Gemini via text, voice, or by using the camera. The email also reminds users that Gemini can still make mistakes, so users should continue to double-check their responses. Customers who want to upgrade to the paid subscription that provides access to Gemini Advanced can also do so through the iOS app, where the Google One AI Premium plan is offered as an in-app purchase. If an iOS customer tries to access Gemini through the main Google app, they'll see a full-screen message appear that says "Gemini now has its own app" and links to the App Store download. It's a risky bet on Google's part to try to push users to download an app instead of continuing to offer the functionality within the app most already have on their phones. While it may make it easier to roll out new AI features quickly, it's likely there will also be some drop-off in Gemini usage as some inevitably don't make the switch.

Google urges iPhone users to switch to standalone Gemini app

Last fall, Google introduced a standalone Gemini app for iOS. At the same time, the AI assistant remained in the standalone Google app. That's now changing. As 9to5Google first noted, Google is informing iOS users that it will remove Gemini support from the Google app. In doing so, it wants you to rely solely on the Gemini app. In an email to iOS users, Google says: "We're making some changes to create an even better Gemini experience on iOS. Gemini is now available as its own app, and that's now the best place to use Gemini. To continue using Gemini, download the new Gemini app from the App Store. With the Gemini app, you'll have access to all of the same features and more." Recommended Videos Removing Gemini from the Google app doesn't come as much of a surprise. Please enable Javascript to view this content Before the standalone Gemini app was released, iOS users could easily switch between Google Search and Gemini within the Google app. However, in recent months, some of the newer Gemini features have been exclusive to the Gemini app and are no longer accessible through the Google app. A clear example is Gemini Live, which was never available in the Google app. The iOS Gemini app allows users to interact with Gemini via text, voice, images, and the camera, offering support in various areas. It can be utilized to learn about new subjects, compose thank-you notes, organize events, and more. Furthermore, it integrates with other Google apps such as Gmail, Maps, and YouTube, simplifying task completion. The Gemini app for iOS is intended to be a flexible tool that can assist with various tasks ranging from simple to complex.

Google Removes Gemini From Google App for iOS Devices | PYMNTS.com

Customers who try to access Gemini through the Google app will see a message saying, "Gemini now has its own app," together with links to the App Store, according to the report. Shifting customers to the Gemini app will allow Google to more directly compete with ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and other consumer-facing AI chatbots, per the report. However, the company risks losing Gemini users by taking the feature away from the millions of users of the Google app and requiring them to download another app, the report said. Google rolled out its Gemini app for the iPhone in November, saying the AI app lets users access the Gemini Live voice assistant, its premium image generator, and links to other with other Google services such as YouTube and Gmail in single conversations. The company's rollout of the Gemini iPhone app marked another move by tech companies to capture mainstream users seeking AI tools for everyday tasks on their phones, PYMNTS reported in November. Companies are racing to convert casual users into paying subscribers through features like chatbots, photo editing and writing assistance. "One good thing about AI-powered apps is their ability to create personalized experiences," Dmytro Tymoshenko, CEO of Noiz, which creates AI-powered summaries of YouTube videos, told PYMNTS at the time. "AI is able to analyze data at a very high speed, which allows it to, for instance, recommend content based on user preferences quite fast." Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said during an October earnings call that AI drives user engagement and growth. "It's one of the most positive user satisfaction launches we have done in search and it is increasing overall search usage," Pichai said. "People are asking more complex questions, different types of questions. They are exploring a wider range of websites. And what's particularly exciting is that this growth actually increases over time as people learn to adapt to that new behavior."

The Gemini app is now the only way to access Google's AI on iOS

Google announced Wednesday that it is removing its Gemini AI model from the Google app on iOS, meaning that Apple users will need to download the dedicated Gemini app in order to use it. When Google first introduced its Gemini AI to the Apple product ecosystem, it did so through its existing Google App, which had been available on iPhones and iPads since 2008. It wasn't until last November that Google released its dedicated Gemini app. Over the past three months, iOS users had their choice of which app through which to access the chatbot, but that is no longer the case. Recommended Videos "We're making some changes to create an even better Gemini experience on iOS," the company wrote in an email to iOS Gemini users, according to Android Central. "Gemini is now available as its own app, and that's now the best place to use Gemini. To continue using Gemini, download the new Gemini app from the App Store." Per the company, the dedicated app will offer all of the same functionality found in the Google app as well as numerous additional features. These include Gemini Live, Google's answer to OpenAI's Advanced Voice Mode that allows users to converse with the chatbot verbally; Gemini integrations with other Google Workspace apps like Maps, Gmail, and YouTube; and image creation using the Imagen 3 generative AI model. Note, however, that while the Gemini app is free to download from the Apple App Store, access to premium features such as Gemini Live and the Workspace app integration will require a Gemini Advanced subscription. That comes as part of Google's $20 per month One AI premium plan.

You'll Now Need a New App to Use Gemini on Your iPhone

How to Transfer Your Data From an Old iPhone to a New iPhone (or iPad) The Google app for the iPhone is getting a little less useful. Google has removed access to Gemini AI from that app. Google Is Asking Users to Download the Gemini App Google recently emailed users noting the change. Instead of the Google app, the company is asking users to download the standalone, free Gemini app on the iOS App Store. If you try to access Gemini through the main Google app, you'll see a message saying "Gemini is no longer available in the Google app." You'll also see download links for the Gemini app. Using the standalone Gemini app on the iPhone, which officially landed in November 2024, you can tap a wide variety of features. Some of those include the ability to interact with Gemini using text, a voice conversation, or with the camera. You can also connect Gemini with other Google apps like Search, YouTube, Gmail, and Google Home. Compared to many other chatbots, Gemini continues to be underrated, and there are a number of reasons why you should try it out. One of my favorite ways to use the Gemini app on my iPhone is Gemini Live. My daughter recently used the app to prepare for a job interview. She asked Gemini to run through the top 10 most common interview questions. Gemini Live even gave feedback on her answers. While you can access Gemini for free, you can also subscribe to Gemini Advanced directly through the app for $19.99 monthly. Along with access to the most capable AI models, you will also receive priority access to new features. That Google One Plan offers Gemini in other Google apps like Gmail along with 2TB of storage. Will the Confusing Decision Pay Off? It's an interesting and somewhat confusing choice for Google to remove access from its flagship iOS app. Many of the people who use Gemini from the Google app might not go through the trouble of downloading yet another app. But Google is likely wanting to quickly add features to Gemini with a dedicated app. It's also easier to draw in subscribers with a standalone app. While I made the move to the Gemini app for my iPhone when it was released, some users could be left in the dust by Google. And in today's competitive AI landscape, that's a confounding choice.