Gemini Live may soon compete for space with Copilot on the Windows taskbar
Google’s Gemini Live AI assistant could soon make a big leap to Windows taskbars, according to a Chrome patch spotted Through Windows Latest.
While Gemini access is already available through Chrome’s address bar, the Chromium patch hints at plans to integrate this AI feature into Chrome for Windows 11, Windows 10, and possibly other platforms. If this happens, Gemini Live can become an important part of your browsing experience.
Gemini Live is designed for natural, human-like conversations and helps users a la ChatGPT. You can talk to the AI in real time and get answers that take context and tone into account. It’s a feature limited to the Gemini app for Android and iOS devices for now, but Google’s plans clearly include making it available much more widely.
The patch to Chromium’s codebase that provides this capability is labeled “floaty detach on Windows.” It’s connected to what Google calls GLIC, which appears to be short for Gemini Live in Chrome. Essentially, Google is developing a floating panel to host Gemini Live in its browser. Chrome could be used for Gemini Live, much like Microsoft Edge was used for Copilot. Microsoft’s Copilot started as a sidebar feature in Edge before transitioning to a standalone app.
The references to a floating panel suggest that Gemini Live may not be docked to the browser window. Instead, it could be a standalone assistant, accessible from the taskbar, always ready to help. The Chromium patch indicates that Google has fixed some technical issues surrounding the floating window, allowing Gemini Live to emerge as its own interface, separate from Chrome itself.
Floating Gemini
When the feature is released, you’ll be able to simply click a taskbar icon to summon Gemini Live, which can linger unobtrusively while you compose an email or do online research. Unlike Copilot, which felt clunky at times, Gemini Live was able to provide a smoother and more conversational experience. And because it’s Google, you can expect tight integration with its ecosystem, from Gmail to Android devices.
Gemini Live would be always there, a permanent part of both online browsing and the desktop experience. Of course, that assumes that all issues surrounding the position are dealt with in advance. Chrome is already a resource-hungry browser, and adding AI features could raise performance concerns, not to mention potentially extensive privacy concerns. But as Google tries to make the use of Gemini universal, this will be an important step in beating Microsoft and other AI rivals.