The buzz surrounding Google’s Gemini AI coming to Android primarily centers on its more captivating capabilities, yet it’s the mundane functions that have genuinely caught my attention.
The AI’s capacity to handle routine tasks is what intrigues me the most. For instance, when I tasked Gemini with locating British Airways emails in my Gmail account, it not only pinpointed the messages but also categorized them (such as T&Cs updates, upcoming trips, account, and privacy) and provided a summary of relevant emails for quick reference. This practical functionality impressed me more than any other Google demonstration I’ve witnessed.
Similarly, when I requested Gemini, via my Pixel 8, to suggest a burger joint for a gathering with friends on Friday at Tottenham Court Road, along with a few pubs, bars, and a late-night venue for post-meal enjoyment, it delivered solid recommendations. Knowing the area well, Gemini’s suggestions streamlined the planning process, saving me valuable time.
The potential applications of AI for everyday tasks excite me more than conjuring up eerie images, programming, or conducting image scans for shopping purposes. Smartphone features have long suffered from excessive complexity, overwhelming users with a plethora of options that are challenging to navigate or fully utilize. People have more significant priorities in life than mastering the intricacies of efficiently using their phones.
I envision a future where Google’s Gemini AI seamlessly integrates into a smartphone’s core functions. I envision being able to instruct the chatbot to activate my mobile hotspot for an hour, establish a shared folder in Photos, and populate it with my ten most recent pictures—all with a single typed command, on-the-go, and in real-time, aligning with the essence of mobile computing.
The technology should eliminate the need to scour Reddit, blogs, and help manuals just to locate a specific setting. The promising aspect is that the trajectory we’re observing suggests that chatbots like Gemini and Galaxy AI are progressing towards this direction.
However, there are still hurdles to overcome. When I asked Gemini on my Pixel 8 to enable dark mode, it struggled. It also couldn’t book an Uber or retrieve an old shopping list from Google Keep, citing the lack of that specific functionality.
While Gemini successfully tackled complex tasks like drafting an email for a recent purchase refund by scanning my Gmail for pertinent details, including the order number, its current limitations prevent it from executing the refund process itself.
The prospect of a future iteration of Gemini mastering such tasks is tantalizing. Third-party integrations could enhance its capabilities, enabling your personal chatbot to autonomously manage the majority of the refund process based on your initial request alone—an enticing prospect for the technology’s evolution.
As Google merges Gemini with Assistant, there’s potential for refining functions that previously faltered in the Nest smart home lineup. You could task Gemini, in a single command, to ensure your heating and lights activate daily at 6 pm. All the neglected Assistant skills that Google is phasing out could become instantly accessible through Gemini, streamlining the user experience.
Rather than specifying which skill to use, users can direct Gemini to complete a specific task, leveraging its available skills accordingly. This approach is already in practice. For instance, if you request Gemini to perform a task involving Maps or Workspace, the AI will display a corresponding logo for those services.
While image creation, editing, and AI interactions may dominate headlines, the true smartphone revolution lies in uncovering the hidden features of your device and, most importantly, saving you precious time.
