What features are coming next to the Gemini app?

Going into 2025, Google has telegraphed that the Gemini app will continue to see a lot of new features, and there are quite a few things consumers, especially on Android, are waiting for.

Redesigned Gemini overlay 

Google is shrinking the Gemini overlay so that its default state is just a bar. Most controls are placed in the ‘plus’ menu, with the only buttons being voice input and Gemini Live, which maintains the same position as it does today. At this size, the blue/purple glow around the overlay is quite prominent. 

Some people have already received this design, but it might get an official announcement next week at the Galaxy S25 event. A wide rollout is presumably imminent and comes almost a year after the Gemini app launched.

Gemini 2.0

Since December, Google has been testing 2.0 Flash Experimental and 2.0 Experimental Advanced (for paid subscribers). Gemini 2.0 Flash is expected for developers in January, and hopefully the consumer launch of the chat-optimized version will follow.

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen how gemini-exp-1206 will launch. It could be Gemini 2.0 Pro or some higher model, with Advanced subscribers previously getting access to 1.0 Ultra and 1.5 Pro. It will hopefully launch soon after 2.0 Flash.

• 1.5 Flash: Get everyday help
• 1.5 Pro: Tackle complex tasks
• 2.0 Flash Experimental: “outperforms 1.5 Pro on key benchmarks” at twice the speed
• 2.0 Experimental Advanced: Offers “significantly improved performance on complex tasks such as coding, math, reasoning and instruction following”

Gemini 1.5 Pro with Deep Research on mobile

Deep Research is coming to the Gemini app in “early 2025.” It’s already available on desktop and mobile web.

Gemini Live with Project Astra

Back in May at I/O 2024, Google said “you’ll be able to use your camera when you go Live, opening up conversations about what you see around you” by year’s end. That did not happen. 

Google gave the last update about Project Astra in December where it’s currently a standalone app for Trusted Testers. It will launch to consumers inside Gemini Live. Beside the live camera, you will be able to share your phone’s screen and ask about what’s currently being displayed. We might see the Gemini Live Astra capabilities by the first half of 2025.

Gemini Live with Extensions

At the end of Made by Google 2024 in August, Google said Gemini Live would support Gemini Extensions, like Messages and Calendar. Currently, Live is for just having a discussion about general knowledge. Being able to ask about your stuff in a more conversational manner and perform actions will be much more useful. 

Gemini ‘immersive’ trip planner

In May, Google showed off an “immersive planner” that can create a custom, timeline-based itinerary that goes beyond showing a list of suggested activities. 

Gemini takes into account your flight timing, meal preferences and information about local museums, while also understanding where each stop is located and how long it will take to travel between each activity.

Gemini takes into account your flight information inside Gmail, Google Maps recommendations for food and museums near your hotel, and Search for other activities, as well as travel times between stops. A ”dynamic UI” with a side-by-side view lets you edit visually or through chat.

It was announced alongside Gems and was set to be available last summer. We’re still waiting for it.

Other upcoming features

Google published gemini.google/assistant last year to address how Gemini was initially lacking as a smart assistant/Google Assistant replacement.

The list has been updated over time and the latest says the only “Coming soon” feature is Ask about a PDF, which Gemini Advanced users already have access to. That could be a reference to free users getting it.

Google does list three features that you’ll soon “be able to type as well as say your request [to], and also complete more complex tasks”:

• (Assistant) Routines: “Good morning”
• Control your smart home: “Turn off the living room lights”
• Find out what song is playing: “What song is this?”

Wear OS 

Earlier this year, we spotted that Gemini is coming to Wear OS. We expect it will replace the Assistant app available today. What we know so far is that you can “Easily talk back and forth to get more done with an assistant on your watch.” This is hopefully a reference to being able to access Gemini Extensions from your wrist.