iPhone owners can download a new app from this Thursday, November 14: Gemini. Widely deployed in the Android universe, Google's AI is now accessible in Apple's iOS galaxy. After ChatGPT, and while waiting for Apple Intelligence in April 2025, Gemini is positioning itself as a new personal assistant. Is it worth it? 20 Minutes downloaded it this morning from the Apple appstore and put it to the test.
Functions already known
Delay filled for Gemini, which officially affixes its black and blue logo this Thursday, November 14, to the screens of Apple iPhones. “Officially”, because it was already possible, thanks to the Google application on iOS, to access numerous functions offered by the AI of the Mountain View firm: answer questions formulated in writing or orally ; write a document; translate a text; identify an object or place from a photo; or even recognize a piece of music… so many functions which until now required a bit of gymnastics due to ergonomics that could be improved.
If the Google application on iPhone retains these specificities, Gemini concentrates them at the same time in the same place. As soon as it is opened, its application offers an input field for written requests; an icon Micro to activate if you wish to perform them by voice; another one, Photo, to launch the Google Lens search based on an image; and finally a key to wake up the Gemini Live conversational agent in order to chat in person with the artificial intelligence. A nice range of proposals. Note that, for its part, ChatGPT already goes further and offers to generate drawings and photos (three per day, free of charge). And to optimize the use of Google's AI and integrate Gemini into your mailbox or Google Docs (to summarize an email, summarize documents, etc.), a subscription to Gemini Advanced (21.99 euros/month after an initial month offered) is required. Businesses are the first to be targeted.
Gemini Live, like in the cinema
But during our tests of Gemini installed on iPhone, it was especially Gemini Live that amazed us. Recently available on Android and now on iOS, this new function in the form of a conversational robot seems the most innovative and relevant here.
After choosing one of the ten French voices offered in the settings (female or male, with a more or less serious tone, cheerful, energetic, etc.), it is possible to chat with the AI in a natural way, without having to say “OK Gemini” to start a discussion.
So, that's it, the movie HER by Spike Jonze, in which an AI named Samantha chatted in 2014 with Joaquin Phoenix, are we there? Let's ask Gemini Live to find out: “What's the difference between the film's AI HER and Gemini? » Immediate response: “So, it's not exactly the same thing. Samantha is a super advanced artificial intelligence, capable of feeling emotions, learning on her own and even falling in love… Gemini, for her part, is also an AI, but we are still far from that level. Gemini is more there to answer your questions, give you information and help you with your daily tasks.” Clear, concise, precise… we are speechless.
An AI that is not infallible
We are also amazed by the fluidity of the voice (we chose that of Ursa, of a woman “involved, with an average tone”). Stunned by the impeccable French, the turns of phrase, the tone, the rhythm, the diction. And surprised by the relevance of the response.
Relevance which can however be undermined. In a few minutes' conversation we had with Gemini about the latest radio audience figures released on November 14, we found that Gemini had the latest information, but could also go wrong when we tried to dig a little deeper into the subject. .
By asking “what is NRJ’s position in this investigation?” “. Answer: “If you want information on energy consumption in the radio sector in France, I can try to find another source for you.” Small problem of understanding. Anecdotal, certainly, but Gemini is not infallible.
We also regret that as part of a conversation, the conversational chatbot cannot display a document to which it refers on the screen of our smartphone. When asked, the voice advises us to use the Google search engine. Gemini Live cannot be used to play music, view images from surveillance cameras… and more generally be used for the connected home. A question of integration which, one imagines, will gradually be resolved.
Casual discussions
But you can chat with Gemini Live in thirty languages, including French, English, German and Spanish. And talk for a long time. Even casually. We chatted over coffee with the AI about the author René Barjavel, whom we adore; of his fantasy novels (Ravage, The Night of Times…); the film and television adaptations that were based on it… The AI does not hesitate to keep the conversation going by asking us if we liked a particular book or seen a particular film. We can move on to another topic and then return to the previous one. Gemini remembers what we talked about earlier. Scotching…
Google's conversational AI isn't alone: Open IA's impressive ChatGPT Voice and Microsoft's Copilot Voice offer similar services.
The fact remains that compared to Gemini Live, the “old” voice assistants such as Alexa and SIRI are now falling HUGEly behind! A small part of “Ni oui, non” with Gemini Live bears witness to this: we definitely no longer play in the same league! On the other hand, the chatbot is not yet capable of generating sounds. To make the sound of a pig or a fart, you can always ask Alexa…
