Google has launched its dedicated Gemini AI app for iPhone, expanding its presence on iOS and delivering a more robust AI experience beyond its earlier integration within the Google app. The standalone Gemini app, available on the App Store, offers iPhone users enhanced functionality, including text, voice, and camera-based interactions. Users can also access previous conversations, making it a useful tool for ongoing interactions.
A notable feature of the app is Gemini Live, a more interactive and conversational mode similar to ChatGPT’s voice feature. While Android users have had access to Gemini Live for a few weeks, iPhone users can now experience it for the first time. When activated, Gemini Live can appear on iOS’s Dynamic Island and Lock Screen, allowing users to manage conversations without needing to return to the app. This integration with iOS-specific features makes the experience feel seamless and convenient, keeping Gemini just a tap away.
In addition to being free to download, the app also includes an option for premium features. Through the Gemini Advanced plan users gain access to the more powerful 1.5 Pro model, priority access to new features, and a one-million-token context window. This premium tier offers a deeper level of engagement, targeting users who rely on advanced AI tools.
The app’s rollout began with a soft launch in the Philippines earlier in the week and has now expanded to several regions, including Australia, India, the United States, and the United Kingdom. This expansion marks Google’s commitment to ensuring feature parity between iOS and Android, a move that many iOS users will welcome, given the limitations of the previous Gemini integration within the main Google app.
Gemini’s iOS release brings Google closer to achieving a cohesive, cross-platform AI ecosystem. While the app still lacks the capability to change device settings or access non-Google apps, it can launch Google services like YouTube Music and Google Maps. This ecosystem approach hints at Google’s long-term vision to make smartphones more interactive and accessible through AI.
With Google and competitors racing for a place on users’ homescreens, the new Gemini app represents a strategic push to make AI more readily available and encourage daily interactions among iPhone users.
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