Google's Gemini is lighting up Android screens with a fresh new look

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Android is getting a shiny new AI sidekick with Google's fresh Gemini overlay.

Gemini window prompt on Pixel 9 Pro Fold
(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

What you need to know

  • Google’s Gemini AI on Android is getting a stylish makeover with a floating panel that features a sleek glowing animation.
  • The new panel’s glow is eye-catching but doesn’t dominate your screen, and instead smartly integrates with your current app.
  • The update also introduces a new “Ask about this video” chip on YouTube, replacing the old prompt.

Google’s Gemini AI assistant is getting a sleek new look on Android, featuring a floating panel with a glowing animation.

The new interface on Android phones is rolling out now, featuring a glowing animation that lights up around the panel when Gemini is summoned, first spotted by 9to5Google.

The animation looks fantastic and doesn’t crowd your screen. It offers a smart overlay that knows what you’re doing in the background, letting Gemini work seamlessly with your current app instead of taking over your entire screen.

First shown at Google’s developer conference in May, this panel is designed to help you keep working smoothly while giving you useful information from the AI assistant.

If you want a more immersive experience, just tap the upper-right corner of the overlay to expand it to full screen. Plus, the panel works smoothly with Gemini’s image generation features, letting you drag and drop images right into Gmail or Google Messages.

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Google Gemini floating overlay
(Image credit: 9to5Google)

The update also brings a new "Ask about this video" chip for YouTube videos, replacing the old "Ask about this screen" prompt. This upgrade lets users easily get summaries or ask questions about video content, making it super handy for educational videos and cutting down on note-taking and comprehension work.

In summary, the new Gemini features for Android are a big upgrade. The floating panel, in particular, is a smart addition that enhances the user experience, making it easy to use Gemini while on the go.

This update comes right after the launch of Google’s Gemini Live, which rolled out a more natural, chat-like interface for talking to the chatbot.

While the new Gemini overlay offers a smoother user experience, it doesn’t match the advanced conversational features of Gemini Live. The good news is, unlike Gemini Live—which needs a Gemini Advanced subscription—the overlay is available to all Gemini users.

Right now, these new features are available to just a few users. But Google plans to roll them out to a wider audience in the coming weeks.

Jay Bonggolto
Jay Bonggolto
News Writer & Reviewer

Jay Bonggolto always keeps a nose for news. He has been writing about consumer tech and apps for as long as he can remember, and he has used a variety of Android phones since falling in love with Jelly Bean. Send him a direct message via Twitter or LinkedIn.

1 Comment Comment from the forums
  • Stanley Kubrick
    "It offers a smart overlay that knows what you’re doing in the background, letting Gemini work seamlessly with your current app instead of taking over your entire screen."I'm sorry, and maybe I don't fully understand, but does anyone else find this to be completely intrusive and creepy? Don't these so-called "smart" phones already follow everything we do, and yet now we're supposed to allow an even MORE intrusive app, masquerading as an assistant, record/follow everything we do in the background?
    I'm not buying into this AI intrusion AT ALL!
    Reply