Google’s Gemini team is apparently sending out emails about an upcoming change to how Gemini interacts with apps on Android devices. The email informs users that, come July 7, 2025, Gemini will be able to “help you use Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, and Utilities on your phone, whether your Gemini Apps Activity is on or off.” Naturally, this has raised some privacy concerns among those who’ve received the email and those using the AI assistant on their Android devices.

  • classic
    link
    fedilink
    1611 days ago

    So is Gemini on there as an app? It isn’t listed as such on my phone

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      13
      edit-2
      11 days ago

      Yes, it’s on there. I have a phone, never downloaded or installed Gemini, but because it’s a motorola with a special extra button… I can push that button and up pops Gemini.

      The only way I can stop it is by disabling the Google app, then the button becomes innert again (which is how I like it).

      So yes, it’s embedded in the Google app. Disabling the Google app may aslo cause other issues (such as Google Home/Chromecast not working).

      • r00ty
        link
        fedilink
        511 days ago

        Doesn’t the motorola phone have a settings screen for defining what the button does? For Samsung they like to re-purpose the power button.

        First of all, it brought up bixby. I turned it back to powering off the phone and disabled bixby.

        Then, with the new update they re-assigned the power button to gemini. So, I turned it back to powering off the phone and disabled gemini too.

        However, the problem these days is that I’m never completely sure I’ve turned off all of the AI nonsense on my phone.

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          English
          311 days ago

          Yeah, but the question was as to whether Gemini is listed as an app. The answer is no, Google have snuck it in whether you like it or not.

          • r00ty
            link
            fedilink
            110 days ago

            It’s in the app list for me. I set it to disabled.

            Phone is Samsung s24 ultra.

      • classic
        link
        fedilink
        211 days ago

        Thank you. I disabled the google app (which I tbh low key don’t know what it even does)