Gemini app simplification continues with ‘Ask Gemini’

Abner Li | Oct 21 2024 - 10:48 am PT

As seen with the Android redesign earlier this month, Google has been working to simplify the Gemini app, and that continues today with “Ask Gemini.”

As of today, the prompt in the full Gemini text field is now “Ask Gemini” or “Ask Gemini Advanced” on desktop and mobile. The Gemini homescreen on iOS (in the Google app) remains unchanged and is still on the original look for whatever reason.

On Android, it was previously: “Type, talk, or share a photo to Gemini Advanced.” Given the more compact text field design, it was truncated to “Type, take, or share…” until you tapped. Given that the microphone and camera buttons are right there, the additional text is not necessary. One inconsistency is how the Gemini overlay panel always says “Ask Gemini” even if you’re an Advanced subscriber.

Meanwhile, gemini.google.com previously prompted you to “Enter a prompt here.” This new version is friendlier to end users.

On social media, Google has a “Chat with Gemini” hashtag. It might make sense to consolidate that to the new “Ask” format.

In other developments, Google recently elevated Gemini on support.google.com to the main grid of 20 products instead of requiring users to expand for all Consumer apps/services. It pushes “Pixel Phone” down, but Google Shopping, which was just redesigned with AI, is what gets removed.