Katarzyna Petru
Google is making a significant change in how artificial intelligence is utilized on Android smartphones. Gemini can now operate in split-screen mode, alongside other apps. 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 viewing on the screen. This is a step towards a more "embedded" artificial intelligence within the 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 your phone looked like this: you open the chat, type a command, copy the result, and go back to your app. Google's new solution changes this pattern.
Gemini can now operate alongside another app in split-screen mode. In practice, this means:
help with editing emails and messages in real-time,
summarizing articles without closing the browser,
generating responses in messaging apps based on the visible conversation,
quickly polishing texts without copying them to a separate window.
AI is becoming part of the workflow, not an add-on running "beside" it.
Less Switching, More Productivity
The biggest change is the reduction of so-called "context switching." The user no longer needs to copy content to a separate AI application and return with the generated text. Gemini analyzes what is currently on the screen and responds without interrupting work.
This is particularly useful for:
students working on source materials,
people professionally writing emails and reports,
users analyzing long documents,
anyone who wants to respond to messages faster.
Although at first glance the change seems minor, in everyday use it can significantly speed up the completion of routine tasks.
New Direction in Mobile AI Design
Google's movement fits into a broader trend. Technology companies are increasingly stopping to treat artificial intelligence as a separate product and are beginning 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 that will allow the assistant to understand data even better in specific applications.
The function is currently being gradually implemented, and not all devices and applications support it. However, the direction is clear – AI is meant to work in the background and assist in real-time, instead of waiting for a command in a separate window. If this model catches on, the smartphone will stop being 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 world in the coming years.
source: digitaltrends.com
