Google has made it clear that it wants to make its Gemini artificial intelligence assistant as much a part of your life as possible. Unfinished code was recently discovers by Android Authority shows how upcoming Gemini extensions will serve that purpose. The extensions integrate Gemini with various Google services, and there are at least six new extensions on the way.
Gemini’s extensions are similar to those used by Chrome and other web browsers, in that they’re designed to improve and streamline tasks while you’re interacting with the platform. Gemini already offers extensions that connect to half a dozen first-party services, including Google Flights, Hotels, Maps, Workspace, YouTube, and YouTube Music. These integrations allow Gemini to access real-time personal data and incorporate it into user requests. That could mean getting information about an upcoming trip from Google Flights or finding out how far a store is from your friend’s house.
The anticipated new extensions further expand the range of utilities available through Gemini. One of the most notable unannounced extensions is Google Home. Gemini essentially replaces Google Assistant by giving the AI direct control over smart home devices without Google Assistant having to ask first. It’s a subtle but important reduction in the time between a request to turn on the lights and the switch responding. How far the extension goes isn’t clear from the code, but it’s a clear step toward Gemini becoming the default voice assistant over Google Assistant.
The same goes for the Phone app extension seen in the code. Once again, Google Assistant’s role as a middleman has been removed, with Gemini now able to manage phone calls directly. Smartphones also get access to the new Utilities extension, which lets Gemini tweak phone settings and mobile apps. So instead of using specific and sometimes limited Google Assistant commands, you could, for example, use much more informal language to tell Gemini to take photos, adjust the volume, and open apps.
Extended Extension Release
The other three extensions highlighted in the code trawl were announced at Google I/O this year and are a bit more niche. That said, Google Calendar, Keep, and Tasks are all widely used and popular apps that could benefit from Gemini’s AI model. These extensions will likely integrate with Gemini to manage schedules, notes, and to-do lists. Google hasn’t set a specific rollout date, though it could be part of a suite of new productivity-themed features or an individual release schedule.
All of the current and future Gemini extensions fit into Google’s blitz of Gemini upgrades this year. The rushed schedule reflects not only how quickly Google is integrating Gemini into its ecosystem, but also how the company clearly feels pressure to match or beat its rivals in the same game. There’s much speculation about how Amazon will improve Alexa with generative AI models, and Apple is expected to make its upcoming Apple Intelligence AI models a core element of Siri. Google wants consumers to see Gemini as the more efficient, versatile option, and perhaps take a bite out of the robust market share held by Amazon’s smart home ecosystem and Apple’s mobile devices.