The news: Google is working towards closer integration of its Gemini AI chatbot in Android 16 this will allow Gemini to perform actions within applications, seemingly unlocking an AI agent in the pockets of millions of people.
The new API enables “application functions”, which would allow trusted system applications such as Gemini to securely perform tasks such as ordering food or booking rooms, for example. Android Authority.
Competition in mobile AI is intensifying: Gemini and Apple’s Apple Intelligence aim to improve the user experience by allowing AI to act within applications. New Gemini API would facilitate direct control over applicationspotentially exceeding Current Apple Intelligence capabilities.
- Gemini is accessible on a wide range of devices, including Android phones with at least 2 GB of RAM running. Android 10 or later. In contrast, Apple Intelligence is limited to specific models, such as iPhone16, iPhone 15 ProAnd iPad And Mac with M1 and later chips.
- Gemini offers support for over 40 languagesincluding English, Arabic, Chinese and Spanish. Apple Intelligence currently only supports US Englishwith plans to expand to other languages over the next year.
The challenge: Successfully commercializing the benefits of on-device AI will be an uphill battleespecially since 60% of American adults think AI on smartphones is just another way for companies to collect their data, according to YouGov.
- Apple’s attempts to make Apple Intelligence attractive to consumers with their “I am Genius” advertising campaign depicts forgetful or lazy people using AI to appear smarter and more thoughtful.
- Google has been criticized for its Gemini ad for the 2024 US Olympic team in which a parent used AI to write their child’s heartfelt letter to the Olympian Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
Our opinion: With Gemini’s ‘app feature’ in Android 16, Google has the opportunity to capture the narrative of AI usage on devices and drive wider adoption, provided it can market compelling use cases that don’t cast the use of AI in a bad light.