Gemini

In addition to the Gemini side panel on the web, Gmail for Android and iOS is now rolling out a Summarize capability to paid customers.

In the past year or so, Google has previewed a number of Gemini-branded and other AI features across its consumer-facing apps. Here’s everything that’s been announced and when they might be available. 

Smart glasses are still an idea of the future that hasn’t quite been perfected, but the arrival of generative AI has significantly upgraded what these devices are capable of. Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses have been viewed by many as one of the best options available today, and now they’re getting some competition in the Solos AirGo Vision, which also happen to integrate Google Gemini support.

Following education and Workspace news this week, Google has a number of Gemini announcements for developers, including a 2 million token context window for 1.5 Pro.

As announced at I/O 2024 last month, the Gemini side panel is now rolling out to paid Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides customers, including Google One AI Premium.

At the ISTE 2024 education conference, Google announced the latest Chrome — like Read Aloud in Reading Mode — and Gemini features for schools.

Following the European expansion at the start of June, Google is bringing the Gemini app and the latest Gemini Advanced features to India. There’s also some new Gemini in Google Messages developments. 

Following the last country/language expansion at the end of April, Google’s Gemini app for Android and iOS is now coming to the UK and Europe. 

After rolling out a YouTube Music extension last month, Google may soon add a Spotify extension to Gemini.

Generative AI in the context of a chatbot can prove useful, but occasionally can behave unexpectedly. Lately, some users have noticed that Google Gemini has been spitting out repeating text, weird characters, and pure gibberish in some replies.

As Google pivots to a heavier and heavier focus on Gemini, the experience of using Google Assistant just continues to degrade.

As promised in March, Gemini Nano is coming to the Pixel 8, as well as the Pixel 8a. Ahead of official availability, an Android AICore update is rolling out.

Google announced Chromebook Plus in October and the next set of software features — both AI and nice quality-of-life additions to ChromeOS — and hardware are here. The highlight is how buying Chromebook Plus will get you 12 free months of Google One AI Premium, while Plus hardware now starts at $349 (from $399).

Gemini-powered Ask Photos is coming to Google Photos this summer, and the company this week shared a bit more about how it works. 

For more than a year now, Google has made it clear that this is the company’s “Gemini era.” With what seems to be a Nest hardware renaissance on the horizon, where does Google’s smart home fit into the Gemini era?

Gemini 1.5 Pro in Gemini Advanced is just over a week old and Google is emailing a survey to AI Premium subscribers today. At I/O 2024, the company shared that over 1 million people “have signed up to try it” since its launch three months ago, and that it “continues to show strong momentum.”

As announced at I/O 2024, Google is more widely rolling out the YouTube Music Gemini Extension. On mobile, this finally brings basic phone assistant functionality.

As announced at Google I/O 2024, Gemini is now more widely available to users of Gmail, Google Drive, and other Workspace products.