Google's Gemini AI is poised to become significantly more useful for Android users, thanks to a forthcoming update that addresses one of its most significant usability hurdles. Currently in testing, the new feature will transform the Gemini overlay from a disruptive, single-task interface into a persistent, multitasking-friendly assistant that works in the background. This change, discovered in a recent beta version of the Google app, promises to make AI assistance feel more integrated and less intrusive in daily smartphone use.
The Current Limitation of Gemini's Overlay
For Android users who have adopted Gemini, the overlay accessed via a hotword or a long-press of the power button is the quickest way to get help. However, its convenience comes with a major trade-off. The overlay currently operates as an all-or-nothing experience. Tapping outside of it or navigating to another app immediately dismisses the interface and terminates the ongoing session. This forces users to either stay within the Gemini bubble until their task is complete or abandon their query entirely, requiring them to start over from scratch if they need to reference something in another app. This design makes the overlay impractical for complex, multi-step tasks that involve gathering information from different sources.
Current Gemini Overlay Limitation:
- Session Persistence: Dismissing the overlay ends the current session.
- Multitasking: Users cannot switch apps while Gemini processes a request.
- Workflow: Requires completing the entire interaction within the overlay interface.
New Multitasking Features (In Beta):
- Minimized State: Overlay collapses to a floating button.
- Session Resume: Tapping the button returns to the exact previous conversation.
- Background Processing: Gemini continues working on queries after the user navigates away.
- Completion Notification: User is alerted when a response is ready.
The New Multitasking-Centric Design
The update, spotted in Google app beta version 16.51.52.sa.arm64, introduces a fundamental redesign centered on persistence. When a user initiates a query through the Gemini overlay, they can now minimize it without ending the session. The overlay collapses into a small, floating button that remains on-screen. This allows users to seamlessly return to their previous app or navigate elsewhere on their device while Gemini processes their request in the background. The floating button serves as a persistent anchor to the active Gemini conversation.
Seamless Background Processing and Notifications
A key enhancement accompanying the new floating interface is continuous background processing. Users are no longer required to keep the overlay open and wait idly for Gemini to generate a response. After asking a question—such as requesting a summary of a lengthy article or the steps for a complex recipe—they can immediately switch to another application. Gemini will continue working on the task, and once the results are ready, the user will receive a notification. Tapping this notification or the floating button instantly reopens the overlay to the exact point in the conversation where the answer is displayed, creating a fluid, interruption-free workflow.
Implications for User Adoption and AI Utility
This seemingly simple interface tweak has profound implications for how practical and appealing Gemini will be to the average user. One of the primary barriers to widespread AI assistant adoption has been the friction involved in using them; they often feel like a separate, disruptive application rather than a natural extension of the device. By allowing Gemini to work unobtrusively in the background and resume sessions seamlessly, Google is significantly reducing that friction. The experience becomes less about "opening Gemini" and more about getting intermittent help throughout a broader task, which aligns much more closely with real-world use cases. This improvement could be the key to transitioning users from occasional curiosity to reliable, daily use.
Availability and Future Rollout
As of December 24, 2025, this feature is not yet available to the public and remains hidden within the beta code. There is no official timeline from Google for its release. However, the discovery and functional demo suggest that development is in an advanced stage. Given the clear utility of the change and the lack of apparent downsides, it is likely that Google will refine and release this update to the stable channel in the coming weeks or months, marking a substantial step forward in making on-device AI assistance genuinely convenient.