In addition to being excellent at text-based prompts, Google Gemini also offers a Live mode that lets you bounce ideas off the chatbot, or even get answers to queries based on whatever’s on your screen or camera. Back in June last year, a leak revealed development on a floating action button (FAB) and a corresponding overlay designed for instances when Gemini Live is running in the background.
Well, it has taken quite a while, but this updated overlay for Gemini Live is slowly beginning to reach some users, per code researcher AssembleDebug, who credits users Telegram users deccboi, Winter_Focus4136, and brokenthrone for the discovery.
For what it’s worth, I’m not seeing the updated background overlay with the FAB on my Pixel 6a featuring the Google app version 17.2.52. However, as AssembleDebug notes, a wider rollout shouldn’t be far off since multiple users have already reported seeing it on their devices.
While there are minor visual changes to the floating action button and its accompanying overlay, they function in the same manner as before.
Some additions, some misses
The existing Gemini Live background interface (images 1 and 2) vs the upcoming version with a FAB and the familiar overlay
In addition to being able to position the FAB practically anywhere on the screen, the overlay itself offers an ‘X’ button to end the Gemini Live session. This button didn’t exist in the under-development version spotted more than half a year ago, suggesting that Google has made quite a few changes under the hood since then.
There’s also a button to mute/unmute your microphone or switch to video or screen sharing, along with an icon to disable or enable transcriptions for the Gemini Live session.
However, we’re not seeing a Pause button here, and we don’t see how it could fit, given that the overlay already accommodates a few options. This suggests that Google may not be done fine-tuning this particular interface and that more changes could be on the way.
Gemini Live can continue to function even when you switch to another app, with the app running a persistent phone-call-style notification that details the duration Gemini Live has been “Listening.” With this upcoming floating action button and the accompanying overlay, users will be able to access these essential controls without reaching for the notification shade.
