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835

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

288 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.

(page 5) 50 comments

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[–] classic@fedia.io 16 points 1 day ago (1 children)

So is Gemini on there as an app? It isn't listed as such on my phone

[–] DarkCloud@lemmy.world 14 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (4 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).

[–] classic@fedia.io 2 points 1 day ago

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

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[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 9 points 1 day ago

What about LineageOS?

My guess is the problematic parts here aren't open source so they should never show up in Lineage OS?

[–] sidereal@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

so this has got me looking at alternative OSs, but it's all a bit confusing. which one is most mature and would still let me run android apps (I want my bank apps and stuff like that) but is also somewhat de-googled? I appreciate any advice

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[–] shneancy@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago (3 children)

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

[–] Hexarei@programming.dev 5 points 1 day ago

Bixby is/was Samsung's assistant thing. Unrelated to Google's Gemini

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