Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
TL; Dr
- In the APK Teardown of Google’s latest beta app, we see information related to many new Google extensions coming soon.
- These extensions include the previously unannounced Home, Phone, and phone-focused ones called Utilities, as well as Keep, Tasks, and Calendar, which Google previously confirmed would be coming soon.
- It’s not clear if they’re all dropping at once or if Google will roll them out slowly.
Google’s Gemini is very powerful on its own, but some of its most interesting capabilities require it to connect to other platforms. This is possible through the use of extensions. For example, the current Google Flights extension lets you download real-time flight information when you need up-to-date travel-related Gemini prompt information. Other extensions already exist for Google Hotels, Maps, Workspace, YouTube and YouTube Music. However, the removal of the latest beta version of the Google app shows that there is much more on the way.
Ann APK Disassembly helps predict features that may appear in a service in the future based on code in progress. However, it is possible that such intended features may not make it to a public release.
In the new beta version of the Google app (v15.29.34.29 beta), we see a lot of information related to no less than six new extensions coming to Gemini, half of which have not been announced. We even have screenshots of what some of these enabled extensions will look like, as well as some of the features they’ll offer.
First, let’s start with one of the most exciting unannounced: Google Home. This extension will allow Gemini to “control your smart home appliances like lights and switches.” Currently, if you set Gemini as your default digital assistant on your phone, any smart home-related commands you issue are relayed to Google Assistant, which slows things down. However, with this extension, Gemini will be able to execute this command itself. Check out some screenshots about it here:
Unfortunately, there is no confirmation if this new Home extension will allow Gemini to control home automations. This is a significant limitation of the current version of Gemini, which we hope will be resolved with this extension.
Moving forward, another unannounced extension will be for the Phone app. As with Gemini’s home commands today, phone call commands are passed to Assistant, but this extension will give Gemini the power instead. So far, it’s unclear what else this extension could do, but the simple “Call [insert name here]” should work:
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
In the screenshot above, we see our third unannounced extension: Utilities. This appears to be a way for Gemini to interact directly with your phone’s settings and apps. The three examples given are for taking pictures, opening apps and adjusting the volume without having to swipe or tap anything. In theory, this could let you do all kinds of things like lock your phone, switch to dark mode, or even reboot. However, these are just theories for now because all we know for sure are the three examples listed in the screenshot.
Finally, there are three more extensions mentioned in the latest beta version of the Google app, but they’re all for services we already knew were on the way. At Google I/O 2024, the company confirmed that Google Calendar, Keep, and Tasks extensions are on the way, and we spotted references to them in this APK teardown. Unfortunately, we don’t know for sure if these will be standalone extensions or included in the already existing Workspace extension. Time will tell about them. We also don’t know if Google plans to roll them out all at once or slowly roll them out in parts. Stay on the line!
