Gemini Live Set to Challenge Copilot on Windows Taskbar

Google’s Gemini Live AI assistant is poised to enhance the Windows taskbar experience, potentially rivaling Microsoft’s Copilot.

Google’s Gemini Live AI assistant is on the verge of a significant expansion to Windows taskbars, as indicated by a recent Chromium patch discovered by Windows Latest. Currently accessible through Chrome’s address bar, this development suggests Google’s ambition to embed Gemini Live more deeply into Chrome across Windows 11, Windows 10, and possibly other platforms. This integration aims to elevate Gemini Live to a central role in users’ browsing activities.

Gemini Live, known for facilitating natural, human-like dialogues akin to ChatGPT, allows users to engage in real-time conversations with the AI, receiving responses that account for context and vocal nuances. While presently confined to the Gemini app on Android and iOS, Google’s strategy evidently seeks broader accessibility.

The Chromium patch, tagged with ‘floaty detach on Windows,’ is linked to GLIC, presumably an acronym for Gemini Live in Chrome. This indicates Google’s initiative to create a floating panel within its browser for Gemini Live, mirroring Microsoft Edge’s initial use for Copilot before its evolution into a standalone application. The floating panel concept implies Gemini Live’s potential independence from the browser window, offering a taskbar-accessible assistant ready to assist at any moment.

Technical advancements hinted at by the Chromium patch suggest Google has overcome challenges related to the floating window, enabling Gemini Live to emerge as a distinct interface apart from Chrome. This feature could allow users to activate Gemini Live via a taskbar icon, facilitating an unobtrusive presence during tasks like email composition or online research.

Anticipated to surpass Copilot in fluidity and conversational quality, Gemini Live promises seamless integration with Google’s ecosystem, including Gmail and Android devices, positioning it as a constant companion in both online browsing and desktop interactions. However, concerns regarding Chrome’s resource intensity and potential privacy implications with added AI functionalities remain to be addressed.

As Google endeavors to universalize Gemini’s application, this move represents a crucial stride in outpacing Microsoft and other competitors in the AI domain.