Katarzyna Petru
Google is making a significant change in how artificial intelligence is used on Android smartphones. Gemini can now operate in split-screen mode, alongside other applications. This means that users no longer have to leave their email, browser or messaging app to access AI assistance. The assistant appears in a separate panel and works in the context of what we are currently seeing on the screen. This is a step towards a more "embedded" artificial intelligence system that supports real-time work, rather than functioning as a separate application.
AI is no longer a separate window
Until now, using AI assistants on the phone looked similar: you open a chat, type a command, copy the result, and return to your app. The new Google solution changes this pattern.
Gemini can now operate alongside another application in split-screen mode. In practice, this means:
assistance in editing emails and messages in real-time,
summarising articles without closing the browser,
generating responses in messaging apps based on the visible conversation,
quickly refining texts without copying them to a separate window.
AI is becoming part of the workflow, rather than an add-on running “alongside”.
Less switching, more productivity
The biggest change is the reduction of so-called "context switching." Users no longer need to copy content to a separate AI application and return with the generated text. Gemini analyses what is currently on the screen and responds without interrupting work.
This is particularly useful for:
students working on source materials,
professionals writing emails and reports,
users analysing long documents,
anyone who wants to respond to messages more quickly.
Although at first glance the change seems minor, it can significantly speed up the execution of routine tasks in everyday use.
New direction in mobile AI design
Google's movement fits into a broader trend. Technology companies are increasingly ceasing to treat artificial intelligence as a separate product and are starting to build it directly into the operating system. Microsoft is experimenting with AI in Windows applications, Apple is developing its own solutions in iOS, and Google is already showcasing one of the most advanced examples of contextual AI integration in Android.
Split-screen with Gemini is just the beginning. In the future, developers may provide more sophisticated integrations, allowing the assistant to better understand data within specific applications.
The feature is currently being rolled out gradually, and not all devices and applications support it. However, the direction is clear – AI is meant to operate in the background and assist in real time, rather than waiting for a command in a separate window. If this model takes hold, the smartphone will cease to be a collection of applications and will become a work environment supported by an intelligent, contextual assistant. This could be one of the more significant changes in the mobile AI landscape in the coming years.
źródło: digitaltrends.com
