On February 18, 2025, Google announced that its advanced AI-powered chatbot, Gemini, will no longer be available through the Google app on iPhones. Instead, it will be accessible exclusively via the Gemini app. Previously, iPhone users could access Gemini directly within the Google app. This change aims to provide a more refined and feature-rich experience, with the added benefit of several new offerings.
The new benefits that come with the Gemini app includes:
- Full feature support: Everything in the Google app is now fully supported in the standalone Gemini app.
- Imagen 3 Integration: The app has sophisticated image generation features powered by Google’s newest AI model.
- Gemini Live Expansion: There are expanded language capabilities for conversational AI experiences.
- App Extensions: The standalone app offers more functionality through apps such as Google Maps and YouTube.
So, what exactly does this mean?
Besides the annoying factor of having to download yet ANOTHER app on your iPhone, this change will greatly benefit users overall. What I believe will be the biggest appeal for people to take the leap and download the app is the convenience of having all of the Google tools and Gemini “stuff” in one place, making it easier to find what you are looking for and give the viewer the comfort of having everything you need in one location.
Of course, Google could not have made these announcements without adding at least a few new tools or features. With the Gemini app, the platform now comes with new technology for image generation and new connections with apps like Google Maps and YouTube.
I wanted to test out the Google Maps feature and so I downloaded the app. When first opening the app, you are asked to sign into your Google account and then taken directly to the home page, being the chat interface. The interface is incredibly user friendly and very direct to what the user is looking for.
I inputted a simple, somewhat detailed prompt asking Gemini to help find a healthy lunch spot in downtown Boston where we could take clients. I also specified that I wanted to know where the recommendations were located so I could see how far away the options were from my office. These were the results:
The results were overall pretty good! I was looking for something a little more upscale than the presented options, but the best part was the added map at the end of the output. Adding the Google Maps feature is convenient and the ease of staying in one app for all of your needs makes the whole search experience quicker and more fluid. It seems silly to say that getting redirected to a different app on your phone is time consuming, but I can say having everything you need imbedded into one interface is awesome and a game changer.
I am excited to see how this app lives on, what future updates will look like and if users will gravitate to Gemini’s new home.
Lilly Callahan
