iPhone users now have access to Android's biggest exclusive

News JVTech iPhone users now have access to Android's biggest exclusive

Gemini is finally on iPhone

The tech giants are all friends and enemies at the same time. Google pays Apple billions each year to be the core search engine for Safari on iPhone, but also takes advantage of it to keep its eggs nice and warm when needed. A recent example concerns the Gemini application, which hosts Google's AI assistant, all with a more intuitive and polished interface than on a browser; logic. The app was reserved for Android smartphones until now.

After this period of exclusivity, Google recently expanded the availability of its Gemini app to include iPhone users, particularly in France. This deployment marks a new stage for the application, now accessible in several countries. iPhone users can download Gemini for free, providing direct, standalone access to Google's chatbot.

The Gemini application on iOS includes the main features already present on Android. It includes written messaging, text or audio query responses, and integrations with Google services. This last feature allows you to launch and manage conversations directly from the Dynamic Island or the locked screen of the iPhone. However, unlike Siri, Gemini does not natively integrate into the iOS ecosystem. So users have to open the app manually to interact with the assistant.

This is where the Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 comes into play. In order to launch Gemini more quickly (an assistant that takes too long to arrive is no longer an assistant), assigning the opening of the app as a shortcut can be practical for Google aficionados on iPhone.

Gemini Live finally on iPhone

One of the notable new features of this version is the introduction of Gemini Live on iOS. This free feature allows you to engage in ongoing voice conversations with the assistant without staying in the app, leveraging the iPhone's Dynamic Island and lock screen for easy access. However, Google has not yet integrated iOS shortcuts, which would have made it possible to start a conversation with Gemini directly from the Control Center. Despite this limitation, the use of the Dynamic Island represents an advantage for iPhone users.

I was able to test Gemini Live on my iPhone, and after accepting a few conditions and allowing access to the microphone, we can use it normally. Google tells us that the audio is recorded, but that you can deactivate this option in the settings.

With Gemini, Google clearly aims to compete with ChatGPT, which is particularly popular on iOS devices. The OpenAI assistant is partnered with Apple by integrating with Apple Intelligence, the range of AI functions which will soon be arriving on compatible iPhones. We will have to wait until April 2025 for the French to be able to benefit from it, for those who have at least an iPhone 15 Pro.