Google unveils “Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking” and updates Gemini app and Android Auto

Google has introduced “Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking,” an experimental AI model designed to “think out loud” while solving complex problems. Built on the speed of Gemini 2.0 Flash, this model displays its reasoning process in real-time before providing an answer, improving performance in areas like physics and probability. It’s currently available in Google AI Studio and Vertex AI. This new model has quickly risen to the top of the Chatbot Arena LLM Leaderboard.

The Gemini app on Android is also receiving an update, widely rolling out access to the 2.0 Flash Experimental model for both free and paid users. This model is faster and more powerful than previous versions, offering a more helpful assistant experience. Users can select 1.5 Pro, 1.5 Flash, and 2.0 Flash Experimental within the app. While file uploads are not yet supported, 2.0 Flash is expected to become generally available for developers in January, with more model sizes coming. This update follows a similar update for the Gemini app on iPhone.

Android Auto is also getting a visual refresh with the 13.4 update. Google adds Material You accent colors to match the user’s phone wallpaper. This means system elements like buttons, toggles, and menus will now feature colors that adapt to the phone’s theme. While this feature is still refined and may exhibit some inconsistencies, it brings a more personalized and cohesive look to the Android Auto interface. This change is visible in areas like the Settings menu and notification center, but only if the setting for matching the phone’s wallpaper is enabled.