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Gemini for macOS gets Neural Expressive, AI Mode on Android redesigned

In addition to 3.6 Flash, Google today is also updating Gemini for macOS with the Neural Expressive redesign.

Back at I/O 2026 in May, Gemini on Android, iOS, and the web received the Neural Expressive design language. It’s now available in the Mac app.

At launch, you’ll see the same colorful gradient temporarily surround the prompt bar. All icons throughout the app have been updated to the thin outline style. On the homepage alone, there are refreshed buttons for the side panel, voice input, Temporary chat, and even full app/mini view (it’s now rounded). You’ll also see new icons in the ‘plus’ menu for consistency across platforms.

Old vs. new

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The navigation drawer switches to pill-shaped indicators to note what you’re currently viewing, while the Settings menu has also been updated. 

Neural Expressive is available with version 1.86 of Gemini for macOS. The Gemini for Chrome side panel remains on the previous design language today.

In other visual updates, Google has rolled out the latest design for AI Mode on Android this week. Specifically, the prompt box is now a floating container instead of being docked to the bottom of your screen like a sheet. Another tweak places the ‘plus’ menu and submit button in pills. 

Before this redesign and Neural Expressive, both apps shared the bottom sheet look for their prompt boxes. (The Google Health Coach still has that look.) It was an interesting idea to unify the feel of the AI experience across the company.

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Avatar for Abner Li Abner Li

Editor-in-chief. Interested in the minutiae of Google and Alphabet. Tips/talk: abner@9to5g.com