Google’s Gemini team is apparently sending out emails about an upcoming change to how Gemini interacts with apps on Android devices. The email informs users that, come July 7, 2025, Gemini will be able to “help you use Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, and Utilities on your phone, whether your Gemini Apps Activity is on or off.” Naturally, this has raised some privacy concerns among those who’ve received the email and those using the AI assistant on their Android devices.
Gemini depends on the Google app, disable it, and it dies.
Have you noticed how the Google app, the one that supposedly just does search and list news articles, has like 400 MB? Over time it accumulated 2GB cache… how?
I recently tried using the Google Translate image translator. Totally locked up now, requiring Play Store and Google App. Still didn’t work, but is was seriously just “if you don’t give us everything now, we won’t do basic shit for you.”
Use Yandex or in use google images in the browser.
“We spent a lot of money on this, so you’re going to have it.”
I’ve not received any mails or notifications. Though I don’t use Gemini at all. Or Google Assistant. Or any assistant.
I don’t use them either, but still got the email.
Same. My only use is accidental.
Guess I’m should get around to disabling it.
I thought I had disabled it, and I don’t have the app, but I can’t see any way to remove it from any of the settings mentioned in the email 🤷🏻♂️
So is Gemini on there as an app? It isn’t listed as such on my phone
Yes, it’s on there. I have a phone, never downloaded or installed Gemini, but because it’s a motorola with a special extra button… I can push that button and up pops Gemini.
The only way I can stop it is by disabling the Google app, then the button becomes innert again (which is how I like it).
So yes, it’s embedded in the Google app. Disabling the Google app may aslo cause other issues (such as Google Home/Chromecast not working).
Thank you. I disabled the google app (which I tbh low key don’t know what it even does)
Doesn’t the motorola phone have a settings screen for defining what the button does? For Samsung they like to re-purpose the power button.
First of all, it brought up bixby. I turned it back to powering off the phone and disabled bixby.
Then, with the new update they re-assigned the power button to gemini. So, I turned it back to powering off the phone and disabled gemini too.
However, the problem these days is that I’m never completely sure I’ve turned off all of the AI nonsense on my phone.
Yeah, but the question was as to whether Gemini is listed as an app. The answer is no, Google have snuck it in whether you like it or not.
It’s in the app list for me. I set it to disabled.
Phone is Samsung s24 ultra.
I guess my next phone is going to run NixOS.
is gemini on all androids? i remember there once was something called bixby, now when i accidentally hold the home button for too long it tells me to enable “circle”. i’ve disabled all of those “smart” features but fuck knows what is going to get automatically installed in an update next week
Bixby is/was Samsung’s assistant thing. Unrelated to Google’s Gemini
Bixby is, or used to be, on Samsung phones.
Gemini replaced Bitchxby on the latest Samsungs.
It’s in the firmware.
Laughs in eu
Laughs in degoogled android
Cries in non-eu, non-degoogled android
What about LineageOS?
My guess is the problematic parts here aren’t open source so they should never show up in Lineage OS?
Pls break Google up. Kthx
Let’s not stop at Google. Break them all up!
Seize the means of production
Yes take over the Google factory!
We’ll make the googles ourselves!
Laughs in GrapheneOS
but for how long https://x.com/GrapheneOS/status/1933177989480456365
X is blocked on network level here, could you please copy&paste?
GrapheneOS @GrapheneOS We’re going to be moving forward under the expectation that future Pixel devices may not meet the requirements to run GrapheneOS (https://grapheneos.org/faq#future-devices ) and may not support using another OS. We’ve been in talks with a couple OEMs about making devices and what it would cost. 1:02 AM · Jun 13, 2025
Thanks!
https://xcancel.com/GrapheneOS/status/1933177989480456365
GrapheneOS @GrapheneOS Jun 12 We’re going to be moving forward under the expectation that future Pixel devices may not meet the requirements to run GrapheneOS (grapheneos.org/faq#future-de…) and may not support using another OS. We’ve been in talks with a couple OEMs about making devices and what it would cost.
Jun 12, 2025 · 3:02 PM UTC
Same entire thread on Mastodon: https://grapheneos.social/@GrapheneOS/114670995130379882
Long enough for GOS to port Android 16 or get their own OEM, I hope
i hope so too :/
Nervously chuckles “im in danger” while clicking through to the Graphene rom.
Why is this a Google Pixel only ROM? Anything special with the Google Pixel?
I even consider Chinese phones a better hardware dela than what Google does, and I know Google software (I mainly use AOSP ROMs, Pixel OS in this case) but if we are swapping right away the ROM of the Pixel and the hardware is subpar what’s the deal with it?
Check out this thread. They go into detail about it.
Pixel phones have an extra security chip in them called the Titan. Other manufacturers lack this.
At least so far Samsung is letting me disable Gemini, as I try to do to any bloatware I don’t want running in the background.
I have a Pixel phone im bout to throw in the river
I can’t bring myself to use a Pixel because I don’t trust Google-everything. I have so much to say, and yet I’ve said it a thousand times already. So I’m just gonna sigh.
And yes, I know I’m on Android either way.
Second that, graphene os is really nice. I have all my intrusive work apps like team, google play stuff on a separate profile and my maim profile has all the private data and contacts. Just watch a yt for setup and follow website instructions, take maybe a few hours to set up.
boo! custom roms!
get grapheneos!!
Why not throw graphene or another alternative on it (if supported) instead of turning it into e-waste?
Isn’t graphene left for dead because of Google being a bunch of dildos?
There are ways they can work around it, but their lead developer was drafted into their country’s military. Ultimately, they’re going to have to make their own phone, and it looks like they’re making plans to do that.
For now, it’s fine.
So there’s an opt-out.
The article seems concrned that the email announcing this doesn’t include a specific path to the opt-out right in the email (which is a weird concern, considering the email provides two links to… presumably that information)?
I’m not sure what this means, either, but presumably the “whether your Gemini Apps Activity is on or off” line is saying that you can still have Gemini send texts for you even if you disable Google storing your apps usage server-side? I don’t use Gemini as an assistant, so I’m not sure, but looking at the Gemini settings menu on my Android phone that’s what it seems to map to.
My interpretation is that you can leave activity of i.e., your interactions are not saved. I may be wrong, but as I’m not interested in it for now, I’m not going to check either.
Right. They have an opt-out for Gemini storing your in-app activity, which I believe is a requirement to get the assistant to be able to do things in the app. This seems to say you may be able to interact with some messaging apps even if you opt out (presumably they would have a rebuilt way to interact that doesn’t store any of your data?).
If this is the case, it’s (apparently) good for privacy.
Less bad, maybe?
Either way it’s definitely a good example of why you should write good emails to your customers that explain things properly.
If this is what they’re saying I’m assuming they didn’t want to be too clear about what info they’re storing if you don’t opt out and ended up making an email that sounds like a threat.
Either way I won’t be using Gemini as an assistant any time soon. Or any other voice assistant, for that matter.
You’re right. Anyeay, my google account is just a placeholder, let’s say. Everything is disable and I don’t actively use it to store anything, not even my calendar.
“Google is making it easier for Google to pry into your personal data.”
“Water is making it easier for water to make you wet.”
Remember when Google+ was the future?
I wish it had been. Circles were so much better than FB groups etc
Ya it was pretty good. It was also pretty great for all the niche community groups. It had great photography, music, open source software, I remember Bernie Sanders was big early on on Google+ well before he ran for president. Google+ was the shit compared to Facebook/Instagram/Twitter. Google just fumbled by giving up on it too soon and not recognizing how good they had it with the photography and hobby interests groups. Their best shot at competing with Instagram and Twitter
no
Come on people don’t spoil sport this, it was funny!
I remember. But don’t quote me on that. Actually, I guess no one can quote me on it, it was in a discussion on Google Wave, anyway.
Google Wave was actually pretty awesome. Google just had no idea what to do with it and it was too heavy for phones of the time.
I was at Google when it came out, I was like “sure this would be fine to use too, but everybody is on chat and Gmail and I kind of need to actually reach people…”
I think they just figured it would get dogfooded automatically because it was slicker than chat and Gmail, but under time pressure you’re just not gonna do it unless you have to.
And there was zero chance I was going to get anybody in my personal life to use it.
Well I guess I’m glad I moved over to apple. But I guess the enshitification of all our phones is coming soon.
Yeah only reason Apple hasn’t done it is because they haven’t figured out a way to connect it all to its ecosystem.
Like they say, the Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Actually, the apple climbs up the tree and claims it made it
switch to grapheneos unless you’re in the eu
I was writing a comment that my device is unsupported and all the supported pixel phones are flagship priced. Then I decided to check my work and look it up.
Long story short I have a refurbished pixel 6 on the way, it was cheaper than my current phone was.
glad to hear, enjoy it!
Thanks, I’ve wanted to do this for ages, but I got this current phone before I knew about grapheneos and the compatibility issue. Now all I need is to fully switch my main email and I’ll be significantly de-googled.
