Google's Gemini AI has officially arrived on iPad with a dedicated app, marking a significant upgrade from the previous iPhone-sized experience. This new app is designed to take full advantage of the iPad's larger screen and multitasking capabilities, offering a more seamless and intuitive user experience. The Gemini iPad app is not merely a scaled-up version of the iPhone app but a completely new platform built from the ground up for iPadOS.
Seamless Multitasking with Split View
One of the key highlights of the Gemini iPad app is its support for Split View multitasking. This feature allows users to run Gemini alongside other apps, making it easier to research, take notes, or work on creative projects without constantly switching between applications. Users can simply swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the Dock and drag another app to the left or right edge of the screen. For instance, students can write papers while Gemini summarizes sources, and marketers can generate visuals while working on presentations. This functionality mirrors what Google previously introduced for Android tablets and foldable devices.
Enhanced Widgets for Quick Access
The Gemini update also brings convenient home screen widgets to iPad. These widgets provide one-tap access to Gemini's key features, eliminating the need to navigate through multiple screens. Users can quickly launch conversations, activate the microphone for voice interactions, share files, or snap photos directly to Gemini. Adding these widgets is straightforward: users can hold the home screen until the icons jiggle, tap the plus button, and select Gemini. A smaller widget includes four icons giving easy access to features of the app. A larger version adds a text box to ask Google's AI questions directly from the widget.
Native App Experience and Key Features
The native iPad app provides a full-screen, optimized interface that spans the entire width of the display in both portrait and landscape orientations. This makes reading chats less cramped and more comfortable. The app also integrates seamlessly with other iPadOS features, offering a more refined and intuitive experience.
Key features now accessible on the iPad include:
- Gemini Live: Natural, real-time voice conversations in over 45 languages.
- Deep Research: Quickly gather information and create summaries.
- Audio Overview: Analyze and understand audio files, now available in over 45 languages.
- Canvas: Collaborate on documents and code with AI assistance.
- Image and Video Generation: Generate custom visuals directly on the iPad.
- Google Photos Integration: Connect to your Google Photos library to search and extract information from your photos using natural language commands. For example, users can search for photos from last summer or ask what themes they have had for birthday parties.
Availability and Requirements
The Gemini app is available for download from the App Store in all regions where Gemini services are active. To use the app, iPads must be running iPadOS 16.0 or later. While Gemini is free to use, access to Gemini Advanced, a more capable version, requires a Google One AI Premium subscription.
To fully utilize the new features, users should update to the latest version of the Gemini app on their iPad. Depending on the device being used (iPhone or iPad), the App Store will install the appropriate version of the app. The Gemini app connects to other Google services like Search, YouTube, Gmail, and Google Maps.
