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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business Standard
Google Gemini to run in-app tasks even with App Activity off: What it means
In a move that could ease privacy concerns while enhancing usability, Google will soon allow its Gemini AI assistant to work with key system apps on Android — even if users have Gemini Apps Activity turned off. This change rolls out starting July 7, 2025, according to an email shared with users and reported by Android Police. What's changing and why does it matter? Until now, using Gemini to send messages, control calls, or manage device settings required keeping the Gemini Apps Activity setting enabled — which meant Google could store and analyse your chat history to improve its AI. With this update, users will be able to access Gemini's integrations with apps like Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, and system Utilities without opting into long-term activity tracking. So if you have disabled Gemini Apps Activity to avoid saving your chat history to your Google account, you will still be able to send a WhatsApp message, call a contact, or set a timer using Gemini — something that was not possible before. Android Police reports that the change allows Gemini to interact with these system features 'whether your Gemini Apps Activity is on or off.' While the setting used to be a gatekeeper for these app-based actions, Google is now decoupling basic app access from full AI data collection. What about privacy? As per the report, even with this improvement, Google notes that Gemini interactions will still be temporarily stored for up to 72 hours — regardless of your activity setting — for 'security, safety, and feedback' purposes. The Gemini Apps Activity toggle primarily affects whether conversations are saved to your Google account and used to personalize and train AI models. Disabling it means your chats will not show up in your activity history and will not be used to improve Gemini — but they may still be briefly stored for backend processing. According to a statement Google gave to Android Authority, users will be able to disable these app connections entirely if they prefer. The company emphasized this is a 'good' move for users, enabling more device control without forcing them to contribute data to AI training. This update also arrives as Gemini is set to replace Google Assistant on Android phones later this year. With that shift, enabling Gemini to handle core assistant tasks — even when tracking is off — makes it better aligned with what users expect from a virtual assistant.
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Phone Arena
Google email hints that Gemini will be closer to replacing Google Assistant on July 7th
There was a time when Google Assistant was the best in the business. Not only did surveys and tests show that it understood queries and requests better than rival assistants such as Siri, Alexa, and Cortana, Google Assistant usually had the correct answer more often than the others. But when AI Large Language models starting appearing on smartphones, it made sense for users to take advantage of the superior capabilities of AI. Android Police was able to view an email that Google recently sent out to Gemini users that mentions changes coming to Gemini on July 7th. This update will allow Gemini to "use Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, and Utilities on your phone, whether your Gemini Apps Activity is on or off." With the latter turned off, conversations run through Gemini cannot be used to "provide, improve, develop, and personalize" Google products and AI models. Disabling the app also prevents users from asking Gemini to perform tasks in connected apps. These tasks include such requests as calling contacts, setting alarms or timers, controlling media playback settings and more. -Google Statement Once the changes are made on or around July 7th, Android users can use Gemini as a personal assistant without training Google's AI models. For example, let's say that you have Gemini Apps Activity disabled now because you were concerned about Gemini keeping your personal info. With the setting turned off, you can't use Gemini at the moment to set timers or alarms, send or read messages, or make phone calls because the Utilities, Messages, Phone, Utilities, or WhatsApp extensions in Gemini will not work with the Gemini Apps Activity setting for your account disabled. But once the changes are made to Gemini next month, users will be able to access those extensions even if they have the Gemini Apps Activity setting turned off. That means regardless of whether you allow your Gemini history to be saved to your Google account, you'll be able to ask Gemini to be able to do things you'd ask Google Assistant to do such as set a timer or alarm, make a phone call, send a text message and more. After the July changes are made to Gemini, even if the Gemini Apps Activity settings is turned off, you'll be able to use Gemini like a virtual assistant. | Image credit-PhoneArena There is an important caveat. No matter how you have the Settings for Gemini Apps Activity set, Google will store your user activity with Gemini for 72 hours for safety, security, and user feedback. If you want to delete Gemini Apps Activity on your Android device, follow these directions. Open the Gemini app. Press the Profile icon in the upper right corner. Tap on Gemini Apps Activity which opens the Gemini Apps Activity page. Press the Turn off button directly opposite the Gemini Apps Activity heading. Follow the directions to turn off the feature (1 step) or turn off and delete activity (2 steps). We are getting close to the end of the Google Assistant era. Originally a Pixel exclusive, Google Assistant was first deployed on the OG Pixel and Pixel XL in 2016. After nearly a decade, AI has taken over giving us more complete responses to our queries. And on Android, in a little over a week. you'll be using AI to do more than just get answers to your questions. You'll use Gemini to set alarms and timers, make phone calls, send messages, and more. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
The Verge
2 days ago
- The Verge
Gemini is getting ready to replace Google Assistant on Android
Android users will soon be able to let Gemini control device features and apps with fewer privacy concerns. In an email seen by Android Police, Google recently notified Gemini users that it will start rolling out an update on July 7th that allows the AI bot to 'use Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, and Utilities on your phone, whether your Gemini Apps Activity is on or off.' Disabling the Gemini Apps Activity setting stops conversations with the chatbot from being used to 'provide, improve, develop, and personalize' Google products and AI models. It also currently prevents users from asking Gemini to perform tasks in connected apps, such as setting alarms, calling contacts, sending WhatsApp messages, and controlling media playback settings. The vague wording of Google's message initially raised some confusion around whether the change would give Gemini unrestricted access to private data or system functions. Google later clarified that Gemini's app connections can still be disabled at any time, and that the update 'is good for users.' 'They can now use Gemini to complete daily tasks on their mobile devices like send messages, initiate phone calls, and set timers while Gemini Apps Activity is turned off,' Google said in a statement to Android Authority. 'With Gemini Apps Activity turned off, their Gemini chats are not being reviewed or used to improve our AI models.' The incoming change means that people can use Gemini like a personal assistant for their device without contributing to Google's AI training datasets, just in time for Gemini to actually replace Google Assistant on Android devices later this year. Turning Apps Activity off will also stop Gemini interactions from appearing in the activity log, though Google notes it will still save conversations for up to 72 hours for security purposes, regardless of whether the setting is disabled or not.
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Tom's Guide
Android 16's broken back button is driving me crazy — but there's finally a fix
If you've upgraded your Pixel to Android 16 already, you may be having the same problem as me: inconsistent back button performance. As frustrating as this is, there is a fix on the way, and it's already available in Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2.1. The update itself is just 5MB, and was announced over on Reddit. As you might expect for an update this size, the release notes are not particularly long. The update includes a fix for the "Approve" button in Device Admin settings, which has been transparent and invisible, while also stopping lockscreen sounds from playing when they've been switched off. Niche, but still pretty important to have. The other two updates are the ones that should be more relevant to the majority of Android 16 users. They're fixes to stop the launcher crashing when you swipe up from the bottom, which has happened to me a couple of times, and the aforementioned back button problems. As frustrating as it was to have the launcher crash on me, I never actually realized that was a bug at the time. I just assumed my phone was too hot, and I needed to do a better job of keeping it from overheating. The back button issue was the one that was getting on my nerves. I've argued before that the back button is arguably Android's best legacy feature, and something that iPhones have never been able to successfully copy for some reason. The worst part about the bug was the inconsistency of it too, since the gesture would only stop working some of the time — and without warning. The worst part about the bug was the inconsistency of it too, since the gesture would only stop working some of the time — and without warning. It initially had me wondering whether it was an app issue, and that devs had done something that screwed with the way software worked on Android 16. But no. Not only did it keep happening, it also kept happening in different kinds of apps. The web browser is the one that stuck out the most, since I could always use the built-in navigation buttons. But when it happened in WhatsApp, I had to exit the app and start over again to get where I needed to be. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. But the public QPR 1 update isn't going to be arriving for a little while, so what does this mean for non beta users like myself? Well Android Police believes the fix will come with the July security update, which should be here within the next couple of weeks. Frankly, the sooner it happens the better. I'm getting real tired of having to navigate the web like I'm on a desktop machine.
Gizmodo
3 days ago
- Gizmodo
Google to Gemini Users: We're Going to Look at Your Texts Whether You Like It or Not
The idea of agentic AI is pretty appealing. Like, sure, I want AI to order my Uber, summarize my calendar, or buy cat food when I run out so my little monster doesn't go hungry, but all of those very simple things actually involve a great deal of trust. You need to be okay with handing over your payment information, your day-to-day activities, and little pieces of your life that might otherwise be totally private. That required level of intimacy is why it's important to be able to opt out of using agentic AI, and also the reason why people are so concerned by Google's recent messaging on that front. As highlighted in a Reddit post, Google recently sent out an email to some Android users informing them that Gemini will now be able to 'help you use Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, and Utilities on your phone whether your Gemini Apps Activity is on or off.' That change, according to the email, will take place on July 7. In short, that sounds—at least on the surface—like whether you have opted in or out, Gemini has access to all of those very critical apps on your device. Google continues in the email, which was screenshotted by Android Police, by stating that 'if you don't want to use these features, you can turn them off in Apps settings page,' but doesn't elaborate on where to find that page or what exactly will be disabled if you avail yourself of that setting option. Notably, when App Activity is enabled, Google stores information on your Gemini usage (inputs and responses, for example) for up to 72 hours, and some of that data may actually be reviewed by a human. That's all to say that enabling Gemini access to those critical apps by default may be a bridge too far for some who are worried about protecting their privacy or wary of AI in general. Gizmodo has reached out to Google for further clarification on what data may be collected by default as a result of this change. We'll update this story if we receive a response. Whether there are additional privacy concerns with this specific change or not, the fact that Gemini needs access to some of your most personal information to realize the vision of agentic AI kind of says everything you need to know. As generative AI and chatbots get integrated deeper and deeper into our phones, we'll have to have a sober conversation about just when and where we're okay with data being collected. To me, it's like the conversation about voice assistants all over again, except somehow even more fraught and pervasive. The worst part is, if we're not careful, all of that information might end up being collected without our consent, or at least without our knowledge. I don't know about you, but as much as I want AI to order me a cab, I think keeping my text messages private is a higher priority.
