Curious about the future of Apple Intelligence? You don’t need the latest iPhone to experience the next wave of AI assistance. Google recently launched its Gemini app on iOS, bringing its chatbot and Gemini Live to iPhones, offering a taste of conversational AI. If this doesn’t impress, you might want to temper your expectations for a supercharged Siri next year.
While Gemini was already integrated into the Google app on iOS, accessible via the homescreen widget or website, the standalone app introduces Gemini Live, Google’s much-anticipated live speech conversational AI. Previously a paid feature, Gemini Live is now free, accessible through the three-bar and sparkle icon within the app.
You can choose from 10 different voices and engage in more natural conversations with your phone. Gemini Live follows conversation threads even if interrupted mid-sentence. However, it currently lacks integration with Google Workspace apps like Drive or Gmail, unlike the standard Gemini app. You also can’t read the conversation history until the session ends. While generally responsive, the chatbot can occasionally stumble over phrases or halt mid-statement, requiring further prompts. It can provide basic step-by-step guides for simple tasks like recipes or holiday card templates.
Gemini Live On Iphone Gif© Gif: Google
Gemini Live’s natural-sounding voice and delivery are impressive, but the content sometimes falls short. While it can access information about events like Pax Unplugged, it might not offer specifics, instead directing you to the event website. It’s also crucial to verify the AI’s responses. Recent incidents highlight the potential for chatbots to provide inaccurate or even dangerous information, such as recipes involving poisonous mushrooms. While Gemini Live advises consulting an expert, it still offered a basic recipe using a toxic mushroom, emphasizing the need for caution.
Gemini’s strength lies in practical tasks like searching emails or navigating Google Workspace apps. It’s a handy tool for locating documents or populating spreadsheets.
This app may offer a preview of Apple’s aspirations for Siri. Apple envisions Apple Intelligence seamlessly integrating between apps, allowing users to extract information from Mail and create Calendar events with single prompts. Currently, iOS 18.1’s Apple Intelligence offers basic notification and email summaries, sometimes with humorous results. Features like Image Playground and ChatGPT integration are available in the iOS 18.2 developer beta.
Experiences with Apple Intelligence, the latest M4 MacBook Pros, and iPhone 16 have been underwhelming. ChatGPT integration on macOS and iOS provides limited information, often making a standard Google search more efficient. The true potential of an AI-powered Siri is anticipated in early 2025.
