Samsung Brings Google’s Gemini a Step Closer With Sneaky Power Button Tweak

A recent teardown of the Google app for Android reveals Samsung’s plan to provide Google’s Gemini with an unusual new entry point on phones. The code suggests a long-press on the power button will invite the AI assistant to make a cameo.

About Time for a Share?: Gemini Joins Roster of Power Button Gigs

Those familiar with Samsung smartphones can attest that the current workflow for invoking Bixby or the power menu lies in a long press on the power button. Not anymore! It’s going to be interesting, not to mention a power balance shift, as we note how Samsung has repeatedly praised Bixby – to the tune of criticism saying it lags far behind Google Assistant in clever tricks. But hey, tasks can still be easily accomplishing with Bixby.

You Now Have More Options; Expect Gemini to Make it Out of the Gate Unpromoted

This new development should shake things up, forcing fans to ponder whether long-standing loyalty to Bixby will be replaced, should they find themselves needing guidance. But don’t just yet – it likely to remain optional, no two ways about it – “hold down the power key to talk to Google (Gemini)” to trigger this setup wizard setup (‘power key’ has more than a few references back to Samsung’s custom appellation for the actual buttons).

Data Remains Uncertain When “Side Button” Tuck Will Make Its Landing but Android 15 on Course

Still, there’s quite limited information available on that score, so we recommend closely following updates on “Source” to stay hooked from now on.

This may not be the norm going forward, but based mostly on Android 14 development, the OneUI interface could make a better guess for a release based from Android 15 sometime at the end of ‘release’.