Google recently announced a major strategic shift: it will completely remove its AI assistant Gemini from the iOS version of the main Google app and instead promote its standalone application. This decision aims to strengthen its direct competition with rivals like ChatGPT and Claude, but it also faces the risk of losing users.
It is reported that Google has notified users via email, clearly stating that "Gemini is no longer available in the Google app." The company recommends iOS users download the standalone Gemini app from the App Store to continue using the AI assistant services.
The new standalone app offers a comprehensive upgrade in functionality, including Gemini Live voice conversations, deep integration with the Google ecosystem, AI-generated summaries, image creation, and more. Users can interact with Gemini through various means such as text, voice, or camera. Additionally, users can upgrade to the Google One AI Premium plan through in-app purchases to access advanced features of Gemini Advanced.
However, this strategic shift also carries significant risks. As a widely used app by millions of users, the main Google app has a natural user base advantage. Forcing users to download a new app may lead some users to abandon Gemini due to inertia or inconvenience, thereby affecting its market penetration. While the standalone app strategy may help Google roll out new features more quickly, whether it can successfully balance innovation with user retention remains to be seen in the market.
