Gemini Gets Lots of New Google Extensions Including Home, Phone, and More (APK Teardown)

 

Stock photo of Google Gemini logo on smartphone (6)

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

TL;DR

In an APK teardown of Google’s latest beta app, we see information related to many new upcoming Google extensions.

These extensions include Home, Phone, and a previously unannounced phone-focused extension called Utilities, as well as Keep, Tasks, and Calendar, which Google previously confirmed were coming soon.

It’s unclear whether these features will all roll out at once, or whether Google will roll them out gradually.

Google’s Gemini app is very powerful on its own, but some of its most exciting features require it to connect to other platforms. This is possible through the use of extensions. For example, the current Google Flights extension lets you pull in real-time flight information when you need up-to-the-minute information for a travel-related Gemini prompt. Other extensions already exist for Google Hotels, Maps, Workspace, YouTube, and YouTube Music. However, a teardown of the latest beta version of the Google app shows that there are many more in development.

A APK Disassembly helps predict features that might come to a service in the future based on the code currently being developed. However, these predicted features may not be publicly released.

In the new Google app beta (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 are unannounced. We even have screenshots of what some of these extensions will look like enabled as well as some of the features they will offer.

Let’s start with one of the most interesting and unannounced extensions: Google Home. This extension will allow Gemini to “control your smart home devices like lights and switches.” Currently, if you set Gemini as the default digital assistant on your phone, any smart home-related commands you issue are passed to Google Assistant, which slows things down. With this extension, however, Gemini will be able to execute that command itself. Check out some screenshots here:

Google Gemini Extensions Leaked Enable Google HomeGoogle Gemini Extensions Reveals Google Home Deal

Unfortunately, there is no confirmation as to whether this new Home extension will allow Gemini to control home automations. This is a significant limitation of the current version of Gemini that we hope will be resolved with this extension.

Now, let’s move on to another unannounced extension that will affect the Phone app. Similar to the Home commands on Gemini today, phone call commands are passed to Assistant, but this extension will give the power to Gemini instead. So far, it’s unclear what else this extension could do, aside from the simple “Call [insert name here]” should work:

Google Gemini Extensions Leaked Enable Google Phone and Utilities

C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

In the screenshot above, we see our third unannounced extension: Utilities. This one appears to be a way for Gemini to interact directly with your phone’s settings and apps. The three examples given allow you to take photos, open apps, and adjust the volume, all without having to swipe or tap anything. Theoretically, this could allow you to do all sorts of things, like lock your phone, switch to dark mode, or even reboot. However, these are just theories for now, as all we know for sure are the three examples listed in the screenshot.

Finally, there are three more extensions referenced in the latest Google app beta, but they’re all for services we already knew were coming. At Google I/O 2024, the company confirmed that extensions for Google Calendar, Keep, and Tasks were on the way, and we spotted references to them in this APK teardown. Unfortunately, we’re not sure if these will be standalone extensions or integrated into the existing Workspace extension. Time will tell. We also don’t know if Google plans to roll them out all at once or release them gradually. Stay tuned!

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