Gemini could let you use your phone while it ponders what to say

Joe Maring / Android Authority

TL;DR

Google has been working on a new feature that will automatically minimize the Gemini overlay while it processes a user request.
It could allow people to use their phones normally while Gemini is processing their request.
Google was also working on a minimize button for Gemini a few months ago, but that hasn’t been rolled out yet.

Gemini can be very helpful, especially as a floating overlay that pops up when you long-press the power button. However, that overlay doesn’t let users do anything else on their phones while Gemini is running. Fortunately, Google seems to be testing a new behavior for the Gemini overlay that could be immensely helpful.

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While digging through the latest version of the Google app (v17.54.10), we managed to enable a new Gemini feature that the company is working on. The Gemini overlay could soon automatically minimize itself while it works on your queries and commands. This means you will be able to launch the overlay, ask it a question, and have it automatically minimize into a floating action button, leaving you free to use your phone while the AI comes back with an answer.

Right now, the overlay stays on the screen throughout the conversation, which means you can’t use anything else on your phone while it is active. If Google does roll out this new auto-minimizing behavior, it could make the Gemini overlay a lot better for multitasking.

A couple of months ago, we spotted Google working on a minimize button for the Gemini overlay as well, which would have served a similar purpose. However, that button hasn’t rolled out yet, so there’s a strong possibility this new feature is also something Google is simply testing, with no concrete plans for a public release.

We will keep an eye out for new developments regarding the Gemini overlay and will update you with any new information as it becomes available.

⚠️ An APK teardown helps predict features that may arrive on a service in the future based on work-in-progress code. However, it is possible that such predicted features may not make it to a public release.

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