Google has launched its dedicated Gemini artificial intelligence app for iPhone users, expanding beyond the previous limited integration within the main Google app. The standalone app offers enhanced functionality, including support for Gemini Live and iOS-specific features like Dynamic Island integration.

The new app allows iPhone users to interact with Google's AI through text or voice queries and includes support for Gemini Extensions. A key feature is Gemini Live, which wasn't available in the previous Google app implementation. When engaged in a conversation, Gemini Live appears in both the Dynamic Island and Lock Screen, letting you control your AI interactions without returning to the main app.

The app is free to download, and Google offers premium features through Gemini Advanced subscriptions available as in-app purchases. Gemini Advanced is part of a Google One AI premium plan costing $18.99 per month. Apart from Gemini in Mail, Docs, and more, it includes access to Google's next-generation model, 1.5 Pro, priority access to new features, and a one million token context window. Users need to sign in with a Google account to access the service.

Google has unveiled a standalone iPhone Gemini app that includes support for Gemini Live, the incredibly smart AI voice mode.

Gemini was previously available via the Google app for iOS by clicking through tabs, but now this standalone version makes it incredibly easy to access Google's AI chatbot whenever you want.

The Gemini app has iOS-specific features like Dynamic Island integration and even supports Gemini Extensions for apps like Gmail, allowing you to ask Gemini questions about your inbox.

Gemini Live works very well in our initial testing of the Gemini iOS app. It has seamless Dynamic Island and Lock Screen integration so you can quickly interact with AI without opening the app, and it's very responsive to even the most difficult prompts.

Gemini Live's natural voice is seriously impressive and considering we're still waiting for Siri to take its final Apple Intelligence form, this could be the go-to for a lot of people looking for the ideal virtual assistant for the best iPhones.

But Live will eventually be everywhere. Whenever the next version of Gemini comes out, that will be too. The whole point of the Gemini app is to put the icon on your homescreen, and give you something to assign to the Action Button or one of the other quick-access spots on your phone. With one tap and half a second, you can be chatting with the bot. That access, and the muscle memory it helps build, are crucial for any company that wants users to make a habit out of chatting with bots.

Like all the other non-Siri chatbots, Gemini has some big limitations on your phone. It can’t change settings or access other apps. But it can access other Google apps, which continues to be Gemini’s big advantage. You can ask Gemini to play music, and it’ll fire up YouTube Music. You can ask it for directions and it’ll send you to Google Maps. It’s a tiny glimpse of what Gemini hopes to be on Android, and what Apple’s trying to do with Siri: use AI to make everything on your phone a littler more interactive and accessible. But none of that matters if people don’t use the bots — and so the race for your homescreen is on.