\nWhen Google launched Gemini for Android, we all thought the fantasy of a generative AI assistant on our phones had finally come true. However, Google gave us a half-baked assistant experience that has, thankfully, improved over time. Now, thanks to extensions, Gemini is more than an over-hyped shortcut to the chatbot functionality.
\nFor example, Google recently launched the Google Home extension. This gives Gemini the ability to control your Google home devices. All you\u2019ll have to do is tell Gemini what you want it to do, like turning off your lights, and it will tap the Google home app and perform the action.
\nAndroid 16 could make Gemini a much better assistant
\nWe know what you\u2019re thinking, \u201cAndroid 15 is barely out\u2026. why are people already talking about Android 16?\u201d Well, Google recently released the Android 16 developer preview. That\u2019s right! If you have an eligible device, and you can flash an image file, then you can try out Android 16. You\u2019ll basically be trying out a skeleton, as Google is still developing features.
\nOne of the most important features coming to Android 16 could allow Gemini to be the AI assistant it was born to be. As it stands, there\u2019s not much that Gemini can do inside of apps. It can perform certain limited tasks, but it can\u2019t do anything complex. This isn\u2019t only because of a lack of AI smarts; Gemini most likely has the raw brain power. The main issue is that Gemini can only communicate with apps using APIs. If it wants to communicate with WhatsApp, then WhatsApp will need to make its API accessible to Gemini. With the millions of apps available on the Google Play Store, Google very well can\u2019t make Gemini communicate with all of them.
\nHowever, Android 16 could come with a solution. This is early information, so you\u2019ll want to take it with a grain of salt. From the report it seems like Google could reverse the dynamic. Rather than Google making Gemini compatible with different apps to perform functions, app developers may need to make their apps compatible with the feature.
\nApp function APIs
\nMishaal Rahman discovered a set of APIs within Android that could facilitate this feature. They refer to what are called \u201capp functions.\u201d The code defines these as \u201ca specific piece of functionality that an app offers to the system.\u201d One example given was a theoretical app function that could have an app order food for you. We\u2019re sure that the app developer would need to implement that app function if it wants Gemini to be able to place an order.
\nFor all we know, Google could introduce more app functions that Gemini can take advantage of. They could allow it to perform much more complicated functions on the users\u2019 behalf.
\nAt this point, details are still scarce. We don\u2019t know how Google will implement this, but we know that it will improve Gemini\u2019s assistant capabilities.
\nThe post Android 16 could make Gemini the ultimate assistant appeared first on Android Headlines.
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![](\"https:\/\/plus.maciejpiasecki.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Gemini-Made-By-Google.png\")
\nSource: ndroidheadlines.com <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"