Tech Desk 
Oct 08, 2024
In a bid to stay competitive with its rivals, Google is reportedly testing a new AI button on its smartphone’s lock screen.
The tech giant aims to integrate Google Gemini in the core of its Android operating system, to provide a more AI-driven user experience.
Gemini AI on Android lock screen
According to Android Authority, the tech giant is testing an AI button on the lock screen in Android 15 QPR1 beta, presumably the Gemini AI assistant, to provide people access to AI features with a single tap.
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The pill-shaped button sits right below the fingerprint reader and is larger than the two lock screen shortcuts at the bottom. It also has a sparkle icon in the middle.
The report also revealed that the AI button placed on the lock screen in the latest beta is currently not performing any action.
That said, once integrated, the dedicated AI button will trigger Gemini AI to bring up various AI tools, enabling a quicker and easier way to interact with Gemini.
Currently, Google offers multiple ways to access the Gemini AI chatbot on Android phones. For instance, Google Pixel 9 users can press and hold the power key to access Gemini AI. However, some users can also trigger the AI assistant by pressing and holding the home button.
