Assistant with Bard: How Google shrunk Bard’s UI for Android [Gallery]

We now have a deeper look at the Assistant with Bard UI on Android and how bard.google.com has been translated to a mobile UI.

• Related: As Assistant with Bard inches toward launch, here’s its UI in action [Video]

As shared by Dylan Roussel on X/Twitter, upon activating Assistant with Bard, Google explains how: “You can still say ‘Hey Google’ to get hands-free help. I’m learning some classic Assistant features, but l know lots already.”

When triggering Assistant with Bard, you get a floating bottom panel that prompts you to “Type, talk, or share a photo.” It’s available in a dark and light theme (compared to today). That corresponds to a pill-shaped container with three buttons, while tapping the top-right corner button opens a fullscreen homepage filled with suggestions that’s similar to bard.google.com’s. Below the suggestions, you get a “What’s on your mind?” new chat field, which can be expanded.

In the top-left corner, there’s a button to see your “Chats” that maps to the Recent/history on the web version, which exists as a side panel. In the right-most screenshot above, you see what a fullscreen conversation looks like when you attach an image/screenshot — “Add this screen” — for analysis, which is a key advantage of AWB’s system-level access. Once you start a chat, note the design of the pill-shaped field at the bottom.

Each Bard response is accompanied by thumbs up/down, the Google/Double-check response button, Share & export, Copy, and Modify response (Shorter, Longer, Simpler, More casual, More professional). 

The other way for you to activate Assistant with Bard is through a simple homescreen shortcut. Tapping the account avatar lets you access key settings: Bard Activity, Extensions, and Updates.

Assistant with Bard Settings include: 

• Your public links: Control how you share chats and responses
• Languages: For Speaking to your Assistant
• Use Location from your device: Assistant with Bard can use your precise device location to provide more helpful responses
• Quick phrases: Skip saying “Hey Google” for help with specific tasks
• Screen context: Allow Assistant with Bard to capture information on your screen
• Classic Assistant features: Access classic Assistant features when you use your voice
• Assistant version: Choose between Assistant with Bard and the classic Google Assistant

On that last page, the company explains the difference as such: 

• Assistant with Bard (experimental): Google’s Al-powered Assistant with Bard can help you get creative inspiration and be more productive
• Google Assistant (classic): The classic version of Google Assistant that can help you get things done

Notably, you can disable “Use classic Assistant features” with an on/off toggle.