New look for Google’s Gemini assistant on Android

Google is now updating the look of the Gemini assistant overlay and the main page on Android devices. The Gemini assistant shows up at the bottom of your screen when you say “Hey Google,” hold down the power button, or swipe up from the screen’s corners.

This new design makes the assistant’s window smaller and easier to use. It now features a simple ‘plus’ button for accessing your Camera or Gallery, a spot to type your questions called “Ask Gemini,” a microphone for voice commands, and a quick way to use Gemini Live. Google took away the feature to split your screen and open the full app, and there’s no more “Good morning, afternoon, or evening” message like before.

As you speak, the text box grows to show what you’re saying. The suggestions for asking about your screen, PDFs, or YouTube videos are now on the left side, instead of in the middle. The design has a bright blue/purple glow around it, making it stand out, and the microphone icon now has a simple circle glow when you’re talking into it.

The main page of the Gemini app has changed too. The old camera and voice buttons are gone; now, you find the voice option in the ‘plus’ menu. If you have Gemini Advanced, you can also upload files from your device or Drive. The microphone still glows when you use it, and the Gemini Live button has moved into a new spot.

The “Ask Gemini” box is now shaped like a pill inside the app, but it’s a rounded rectangle on the overlay. This update has been rolling out slowly but should be available to everyone now. Make sure your Google app is updated to version 16.2.40 from the Play Store. You might need to close and reopen the app to see the changes.

We’ve noticed this new design on all sorts of devices, even the Samsung phones and Pixel Tablets, which didn’t have it earlier this week. On larger screens, the “Ask Gemini” box doesn’t stretch across the whole screen anymore.