this post was submitted on 25 Jun 2025
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You're not alone: This email from Google's Gemini team is concerning (www.androidauthority.com)
submitted 1 day ago by PrivacyDingus@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
223 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

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.

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[–] DarkCloud@lemmy.world 13 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

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).

[–] r00ty@kbin.life 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

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.

[–] DarkCloud@lemmy.world 2 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

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.

[–] r00ty@kbin.life 1 points 2 hours ago

It's in the app list for me. I set it to disabled.

Phone is Samsung s24 ultra.

[–] classic@fedia.io 1 points 17 hours ago

Thank you. I disabled the google app (which I tbh low key don't know what it even does)