Google launched the Gemini app on Android a few days ago, and with its AI smarts came the option of having it replace Google Assistant on your handset. At first glance, choosing Google Gemini as your phone’s virtual assistant seems reasonable. Still, according to a recent support post by the search giant, the Gemini app has a way to go before it hopes to be a fully-fledged replacement for the Google Assistant.
According to the support post, the Gemini app can only perform a limited number of tasks that you might rely on Google Assistant to perform, although that will probably change in the coming months.
What Can The Gemini App Do?
It can perform smarter tasks than the Google Assistant and in more detail. Tasks like the ones listed below are well within the Gemini app’s wheelhouse:
- Learn in new ways and with a deeper understanding of an open-ended topic through back-and-forth conversation.
- Ask questions about your surroundings. In the Gemini app, tap Camera, take a photo, and ask questions about it.
- Get help with writing, correcting grammar, and translating.
- Get inspiration for activities to do and visualize your plans on a map.
- Summarize or get an overview of a topic in any format you want, like a list, table, or chart.
- Ask Gemini to search your Gmail for the information you want, like key details from emails about an upcoming trip.
- Create a custom itinerary including details such as flights and hotels based on your specific needs, like the destination, date, duration, and price.
Using the Gemini app as your mobile assistant on your handset will allow you to ask questions about what is being shown on the screen, such as summarizing a webpage or searching for more information about an image. You can do this with most apps simply by activating Gemini and tapping on Add This Screen. You can also perform the following tasks:
- Create or modify alarms and timers.
- Make phone calls, send messages, and read incoming messages.
- Control your device, like turning on your flashlight or Bluetooth or opening an app.
- Control your lights, home security, and other smart home devices.
- Broadcast messages on connected devices in your home.
- Read a web page out loud (Pixel 8 or later).
- Get help with your Pixel by saying, “Help me with my Pixel” (Pixel 8 or later).
What Gemini Can’t Do, Yet
For the moment, at least, Gemini isn’t capable of setting or checking on reminders or mundane tasks such as checking the traffic for your drive home, actioning voice commands to play music, or even editing your shopping list, to name a few. You’ll need to use these tasks with Google Assistant, so if you’ve set Gemini as your default assistant, you’ll need to switch back.
You can switch back to using the Google Assistant as your primary assistant by following these steps:
- Open up the Gemini mobile app on your phone.
- Tap your profile picture at the top right of the display or initial>Settings>Digital Assistants from Google.
- Tap on Google Assistant to make it your default assistant.
Just because Gemini can’t fulfill a certain request right now doesn’t mean it won’t be able to in the future. Still, it does entail keeping the Google Assistant present on your handset for now if a specific task you rely upon isn’t supported yet.
What has your experience with Google’s Gemini app been so far? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
