Google’s Gemini AI assistant is enhancing its functionality on Android devices with the introduction of the Utilities extension, designed to perform a wider range of on-device tasks. Initially previewed at Google I/O 2024, this extension aims to elevate user experience by enabling Gemini to handle various device management functions, moving beyond the traditional voice assistant capabilities. The rollout of the Utilities extension is currently underway on the Gemini mobile app and is expected to reach more Android devices soon.

Key Features of Gemini’s Utilities Extension

The Utilities extension introduces several new capabilities that significantly expand Gemini’s utility:

Expanded Device Management

• Set and Manage Alarms and Timers: Users can easily create and manage alarms and timers directly through voice commands.
• Control Device Features: Gemini can adjust volume levels, display brightness, and operate the flashlight.
• Media Playback Management: Users can control music and video playback seamlessly.
• App and Settings Control: The extension allows users to open specific apps, websites, and device settings, although it currently does not support opening particular web pages or using features like Find My Device.

Lock Screen Access

With the lock screen settings enabled, Gemini can manage essential functions even when the device is locked. Users can:

• Set or silence alarms

• Control timers

• Activate features like Do Not Disturb or Battery Saver

• Take photos or screenshots

Integration with Pixel Screenshots

For Pixel 9 users, Gemini can directly interact with the Pixel Screenshots app, allowing them to locate specific screenshots or retrieve information from within the app, enhancing the overall user experience.

How to Enable the Utilities Extension

To activate the Utilities extension on your Android device, follow these steps:

1. Open the Gemini mobile app and ensure it is set as your primary assistant, configured to respond in English.
2. Tap on your Google Account menu in the top right corner.
3. Select “Gemini Apps Activity” and turn it on.

Significance of the Update

The introduction of the Utilities extension represents a significant step for Google as it seeks to position Gemini as a viable alternative to Google Assistant. Many users have expressed concerns about Gemini’s initial lack of basic functionalities that were previously available through Assistant. With this update, Gemini can now perform many of these essential tasks natively on Android devices.

As Google continues to enhance Gemini’s capabilities, it aims to compete more effectively with other AI-driven assistants like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Copilot. This expansion also aligns with Google’s broader strategy to integrate AI more deeply into its ecosystem, making everyday tasks easier for users.

Future Outlook

While some features are currently limited—such as not being able to change language settings or access specific web pages—the ongoing development of Gemini suggests that future updates may address these gaps. The gradual rollout of the Utilities extension indicates Google’s commitment to refining its AI assistant offerings based on user feedback.

In conclusion, with the launch of the Utilities extension, Google’s Gemini AI is set to provide a more versatile and integrated assistant experience for Android users, marking a notable evolution in how users interact with their devices. As this technology continues to develop, users can expect further enhancements that will make their interactions with technology smoother and more intuitive.

As the world’s population continues to grow, so does the demand for food production. However, balancing this need with sustainability and quality control remains a significant challenge. A Singapore-based startup, ProfilePrint, is tackling this issue with its innovative technology aimed at revolutionizing the way agribusinesses assess ingredient quality.

Digital Fingerprints: A New Approach to Ingredient Quality

ProfilePrint has developed a patented digital fingerprint technology that enables rapid and accurate ingredient analysis, saving time and reducing costs for agribusinesses. By using machine learning and molecular-level analysis, ProfilePrint’s technology captures and digitalizes the unique “fingerprint” of food ingredients, allowing producers and traders to make informed decisions without the need for physical sampling.

CEO Insights

Alan Lai, CEO and founder of ProfilePrint, explains that the current ingredient trade system relies heavily on sending physical samples back and forth across the supply chain, which increases both cost and carbon footprint. “ProfilePrint digitalizes food ingredients, so buyers and sellers no longer need to ship samples physically, significantly reducing logistics costs and environmental impact,” Lai says.

How ProfilePrint’s AI-Powered Technology Works

ProfilePrint’s platform allows companies to create custom AI models to assess raw ingredients for specific quality criteria, such as appearance, taste, and molecular composition. Using its platform, companies can quickly determine if an ingredient meets their requirements or if it contains any defects that might impact the product’s final quality.

Demonstration of Capabilities

In a demonstration, Lai showed how ProfilePrint’s technology can detect even minor defects in coffee beans—such as beans that have been improperly fermented or damaged by insects—by analyzing them at a molecular level and instantly providing a quality assessment. “The molecules are captured and converted into a digital fingerprint that contains detailed information about the ingredient,” he explains. Within seconds, the AI system processes the data to provide a quality rating or pricing suggestion.

Expanding Applications and Global Reach

Beyond coffee and tea, ProfilePrint envisions broad applications for its technology in food quality control and security. By offering insights into flavor profiles, pricing, and quality trade-offs, the platform empowers clients to make data-driven purchasing decisions.

Growth Journey

Founded in 2017, ProfilePrint has grown from Lai’s experiences observing farmers in Uganda and China, where limited resources often led to low selling prices despite high product quality. Today, the startup operates globally with deployments in over 60 locations across six continents. Its digital nature allows clients worldwide to access the service remotely, providing a scalable solution for agribusinesses of all sizes.

Backed by Visionary Investors

ProfilePrint’s potential has attracted investors like Yukihiro Maru, founder of Leave a Nest Capital in Japan. Maru sees ProfilePrint as an example of how AI can transform the agribusiness industry, especially in emerging markets. “ProfilePrint can adapt its technology beyond coffee and tea, moving into the food security space,” he said at the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH) conference.

Industry Context

ProfilePrint is part of a growing sector of AI-driven startups focused on food quality and ingredient analysis. U.S.-based companies like Aromyx and Brightseed also use AI to optimize flavor and health benefits in food and supplements. However, with its unique digital fingerprinting approach, ProfilePrint is poised to make significant inroads into the global market by providing fast, cost-effective solutions to improve ingredient quality control and efficiency.

Commitment to Sustainability

Beyond enhancing operational efficiency, ProfilePrint’s technology promotes sustainability by providing traceability features that allow end buyers to access digital signatures and geographical records of their ingredients. This transparency helps ensure fair compensation for farmers based on quality while fostering trust in the supply chain.

Conclusion

As demand for quality food production continues to rise, ProfilePrint’s innovative technology offers a promising path forward by combining AI with practical solutions for global agribusinesses to meet quality standards sustainably and efficiently. The startup’s approach not only addresses immediate challenges in ingredient assessment but also sets the stage for future advancements in food safety and quality assurance across diverse markets.

With ongoing developments in AI technology, ProfilePrint is well-positioned to lead the charge in transforming how food ingredients are evaluated globally while contributing positively to both producers’ livelihoods and consumer safety.

Apple recently launched its iOS 18.1 update, introducing Apple Intelligence, a suite of advanced AI features exclusive to certain iPhones. Among the standout features is “Writing Tools,” which allows users to rewrite, summarize, and refine text. Although Android is known for its customization options, it lacks a similar, built-in tool—until now.

Introduction of Infuse

Infuse, developed by Sapiens Labs and available on the Google Play Store, brings comparable writing capabilities to all Android devices. Much like Apple Intelligence, Infuse can be used across apps to perform tasks such as translating, expanding, rewriting, summarizing, and proofreading text. Additionally, Infuse can help draft emails and create social media posts, even allowing users to set the tone of a message. This functionality is powered by ChatGPT or Claude, meaning Infuse processes text by sending queries to OpenAI or Claude’s servers.

Features of Infuse

• Cross-App Functionality: Infuse operates seamlessly across various applications on Android devices.
• Text Manipulation: Users can translate, rewrite, summarize, and proofread text easily.
• Drafting Assistance: The app assists in composing emails and social media posts with customizable tones.

How Infuse Works

Infuse utilizes Android’s Accessibility Service, granting it permission to read on-screen text and respond based on the conversation’s context. To initiate a bot within the app, users can select its name and enter a specific phrase in the “Trigger method” section. Enabling the “Use context” feature allows Infuse to review previous conversation threads for more context-aware responses.

Customization Options

The app offers several “Bots” in its built-in Bot Store, which users can add as needed. For a more personalized experience, users can create custom bots by selecting “Add bot” and defining how it should respond.

Pricing Structure

While the app is free to download and use, users can upgrade to a premium version that unlocks access to advanced AI models, unlimited chats, extended responses, and an ad-free experience. This tiered pricing model allows users to choose how much they want to invest in their writing assistance tools.

Comparison with Apple’s Writing Tools

Unlike Apple’s Writing Tools, which are currently limited to select iPhones and require a waitlist for access, Infuse is accessible on any Android device. However, Apple’s Writing Tools benefit from system-level integration, end-to-end encryption, and Private Cloud Compute security, which are not available with Infuse. Additionally, Apple’s tools are designed to safeguard user data more effectively than third-party applications like Infuse.

Privacy Considerations

While Infuse provides powerful writing assistance capabilities, users should consider privacy implications when using third-party services that process sensitive information. Unlike Apple’s integrated tools that prioritize user privacy through robust security measures, the privacy policies of third-party apps may vary.

Conclusion

With the launch of Infuse, Android users now have a convenient AI-powered writing assistant at their fingertips. This app brings much-needed functionality that parallels Apple’s offerings while providing flexibility across various platforms.

As users increasingly rely on digital tools for communication and content creation, Infuse represents an important step forward in enhancing productivity for Android users. However, it remains essential for users to weigh the benefits of such tools against potential privacy risks associated with third-party applications. The introduction of Infuse not only fills a gap in the Android ecosystem but also highlights the ongoing competition between platforms in providing advanced AI-driven solutions for everyday tasks.