Google’s Gemini is an impressive AI chatbot, but to unlock its full potential on Android devices, users need to manually enable certain applications—referred to as extensions. Currently, Google provides several Apps for Gemini, including Phone, Messages, Utilities, and Workspace.
Recently, the company has made a significant announcement aimed at addressing user privacy concerns. They are now informing users that access to these extensions will be available even if the Gemini Apps Activity feature is disabled.
According to an email received by an Associated Press colleague, starting July 7, 2025, Gemini will be capable of using the Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, and Utilities apps on users’ devices, regardless of the Gemini Apps Activity setting status. This means Gemini can engage with the Phone app, alter system settings, and send messages through both text and WhatsApp seamlessly.
This update appears to be a positive development for privacy. Users will have the ability to utilize Gemini’s functionalities without enabling the Gemini Apps Activity setting, which typically saves the user’s interaction history to their Google account for personalization purposes.
Previously, individuals who opted to disable this setting could not access any Messaging, Phone, Utilities, or WhatsApp features within Gemini. However, it’s important to note that Google continues to store user activity with Gemini for up to 72 hours regardless of the chosen setting.
This practice is intended for safety, security, and user feedback. Moreover, further investigation has clarified that these changes enhance user access to Gemini features without the need to share their Apps Activity with Google, which makes this adjustment a beneficial one for privacy-conscious users.
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