Google rollsout Gemini Live to free users, Chrome introduces one-tap unsubscribe, and Google Photos improves clutter management

Top 3 Key Points:

1. Gemini Live Available to Free Users: Google extends Gemini Live for free Android users, allowing conversational AI interactions.
2. Chrome Enhances Security with One-Tap Unsubscribe: Google Chrome adds a feature to easily unsubscribe from web notifications and revokes permissions from unwanted sites.
3. Google Photos Boosts Clutter Management: New options to control backed-up content and third-party app images are coming to Google Photos.

Google is expanding its popular Gemini Live feature, initially available to Advanced subscribers, to all free Android users. Gemini Live enables users to interact in real time with an AI, allowing fluid conversations where users can interrupt and add new information during a session. You can access it via a circular waveform icon at the bottom-right corner of the Gemini interface. Once activated, Gemini Live runs in the background, and users can stop the session by either tapping a button or saying “Stop.”

Although the feature is still missing Gemini Extensions that will let it access apps like Gmail and YouTube Music, these capabilities are expected soon. Gemini Live also introduces 10 new voices, each with different tones and characteristics, allowing users to personalize their experience further.

Currently, Gemini Live is available in English on Android devices, with more languages on the way.

Chrome’s New Notification Controls

Google Chrome is also improving user safety and control with a new one-tap “Unsubscribe” button for web notifications. Initially available on Pixel devices, this feature is rolling out to more Android devices soon. Chrome will automatically run Safety Check in the background, checking for compromised passwords, and outdated versions, and ensuring Safe Browsing is turned on. Chrome will also take steps to revoke permissions from sites no longer in use or flagged as deceptive.

Safety Check’s one-time permissions for camera and microphone access will be revoked after leaving a website, ensuring better privacy. On desktop, the tool will also flag risky Chrome Extensions and offer quick removal options. Chrome’s proactive security approach has already reduced notification volume by 30% on supported devices, and it is expected to have a wider impact as more users adopt the feature.

Google Messages Shrinks Gemini Button

Meanwhile, in Google Messages, the floating action button (FAB) for Gemini has been scaled back to its original size. After being enlarged last month, the button is now smaller, providing a more subtle experience without covering significant screen space. The more compact design makes it less obtrusive, which could encourage more users to keep it enabled.

Google Photos Enhances Clutter Management

Google Photos, a favorite app for managing photos and videos, is working on improved clutter management. Users who back up content from third-party apps will soon have more control over how these images appear in their feeds. An option to show only backed-up images from third-party apps is under development, giving users a cleaner, more organized view of their photos.

Additionally, Google Photos will soon show how many photos in each device folder still need to be backed up, helping users manage their storage more effectively. Although this feature is still in development, it promises to offer more control over cloud backups.

These improvements are expected to make Google Photos even more efficient for managing device folders and third-party app content, though the feature isn’t live just yet.