Google is said to be working on an artificial intelligence (AI) feature that will let users get real-time responses and ask follow-up queries. As per a leak, the new feature is called conversational search, and it is being added to the Google app for Android. With this, when users ask a voice query, the app is said to show real-time responses as well as allow them to ask follow-up questions. The feature was first spotted in the beta version of the Google app.

Google App Said to Get AI-Powered Conversational Search Feature

In an X (formerly known as Twitter) post, tipster AssembleDebug shared a demo video of the feature. Explaining it, he said that the conversational search feature in the Google app can continuously listen to the user’s voice and one can ask follow-up questions directly without needing to tap the mic icon over and over.

Recently, Android Authority also found evidence of the feature in the Google app beta version 5.43.36.28, where several strings of code detailed its functioning. The strings revealed that the conversational search feature is powered by AI, and the mode can be activated by tapping the microphone button. Once activated, it can reportedly continuously listen to the user, waiting for any follow-up queries. This way, the user does not have to tap on the button over and over again.

In the demo video, the tipster was able to activate the feature directly by using the Google Search widget for Android. This likely means that the conversational search can be accessed both by going to the Google app as well as the Search widget. Notably, there is no word on when this feature will be released for beta testers or the global user base.

Separately, a report claimed that Google has released a standalone Gemini app for iOS. It is reportedly similar to the Android app and even comes with the Gemini Live, the two-way voice conversation feature, built into it. However, several users have claimed that the app is not available in their region or country.

Google Pixel phones are equipped with Tensor chips that are designed to offer advanced AI capabilities and a tight integration with the company’s exclusive software features, but the company’s processors are also known to face thermal and efficiency issues, especially when compared with offerings from Qualcomm. According to a report, the company will focus on developing the Tensor G6 — the chip expected to power the Pixel 11 series — to solve issues related to efficiency and overheating.

Tensor G6 Chip for Pixel 11 Series to Focus on Solving Heating, Efficiency Challenges

An Android Authority report that cites documents from Google’s GChips division reveals that the company is aware of issues that affect its existing Pixel smartphone models. Thermal issues are the “#1 reason for Pixel returns” while “thermal comfort limits are too high” according to a presentation slide seen by the publication. The firm is reportedly looking to improve thermals in order to improve customer satisfaction and reduce returns of the handsets.

Another area that Google is reportedly improving the Tensor G6 is related to battery life. This is another common complaint among Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 users, according to the presentation, which states that users “expect 36 hours of battery life”. This suggests that power usage and efficiency will be two areas where the Pixel 11 series could offer an improvement over its predecessors.

Google Charts New Financial Targets for Tensor Chips

The company is targeting a price of $65 (roughly Rs. 5,500) per Tensor G6 chip, which is lower than the purported cost of $150 (roughly Rs. 12,700) for a comparable chipset from Qualcomm, according to the report. There’s no mention of the cost of previous Tensor chips, so we don’t really have an idea of how much Google plans to save by producing its chips for the Pixel 11 series with the new financial target. 

According to previous reports, Google will start producing its Tensor G5 chips — expected to power the successor to the Pixel 9 series — with Taiwan’s TSMC. The next generation of Tensor chips are not expected to offer a big leap in performance compared to existing models, but they are said to deliver improvements to battery life and efficiency, and the Pixel 11 series with a Tensor G6 chip could bring even more improvements in 2026.

Gemini AI assistant is finally getting support for an extension that will allow it to perform various smartphone tasks. Dubbed the Utilities extension, it was first announced at the Google I/O and it can control first-party apps and functions such as alarm, timer, volume control, camera, and more. However, the Mountain View-based tech giant is rolling out the extension gradually and it might take a few weeks before all Android device users can see the capability.

Gemini Utilities Extension

Ever since the launch of Gemini as an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant for Android devices, the chatbot has lacked some very crucial capabilities available with Google Assistant. For instance, it cannot open apps, click a picture using the phone’s camera, or set an alarm. To fix this issue, Google announced a new Utilities extension earlier this year. In its support pages, the tech giant announced that the extension is finally being rolled out to users.

However, there are some limitations. The feature is only available via the Gemini mobile app on Android smartphones. For the feature to work, users must have set Gemini as the default virtual assistant. Additionally, the Utilities extension only works with prompts in the English language for now. Also, since the feature is being gradually rolled out, some users might have to wait for some time before it becomes available for them.

With this extension, Gemini AI assistant will be able to manage several tasks on the lock screen as well. Some of them include setting and silencing alarms, setting and stopping timers, turning on or off the flashlight, Bluetooth, DND and Battery Saver mode, checking the device’s volume and battery level, turning off the device or restarting, and more.

Google also revealed that the extension will let the AI assistant perform multiple actions with a single prompt. It can also open websites, apps, and the settings menu. Further, Gemini will also be able to open the Camera app and click a picture or capture a screenshot.

This extension will also give Gemini the ability to control media playback including pause and play functions as well as moving to the previous or the next media. This will only work with the native media player, however, and may not work with apps such as Spotify or Apple Music. And finally, users will also be able to set alarms and timers with this feature.

Gemini AI assistant is finally getting support for an extension that will allow it to perform various smartphone tasks. Dubbed the Utilities extension, it was first announced at the Google I/O and it can control first-party apps and functions such as alarm, timer, volume control, camera, and more. However, the Mountain View-based tech giant is rolling out the extension gradually and it might take a few weeks before all Android device users can see the capability.

Gemini Utilities Extension

Ever since the launch of Gemini as an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant for Android devices, the chatbot has lacked some very crucial capabilities available with Google Assistant. For instance, it cannot open apps, click a picture using the phone’s camera, or set an alarm. To fix this issue, Google announced a new Utilities extension earlier this year. In its support pages, the tech giant announced that the extension is finally being rolled out to users.

However, there are some limitations. The feature is only available via the Gemini mobile app on Android smartphones. For the feature to work, users must have set Gemini as the default virtual assistant. Additionally, the Utilities extension only works with prompts in the English language for now. Also, since the feature is being gradually rolled out, some users might have to wait for some time before it becomes available for them.

With this extension, Gemini AI assistant will be able to manage several tasks on the lock screen as well. Some of them include setting and silencing alarms, setting and stopping timers, turning on or off the flashlight, Bluetooth, DND and Battery Saver mode, checking the device’s volume and battery level, turning off the device or restarting, and more.

Google also revealed that the extension will let the AI assistant perform multiple actions with a single prompt. It can also open websites, apps, and the settings menu. Further, Gemini will also be able to open the Camera app and click a picture or capture a screenshot.

This extension will also give Gemini the ability to control media playback including pause and play functions as well as moving to the previous or the next media. This will only work with the native media player, however, and may not work with apps such as Spotify or Apple Music. And finally, users will also be able to set alarms and timers with this feature.

YouTube announced several new and updated features in October. Among them were a new sleep timer, a resizable miniplayer, and some visual improvements. The Alphabet-owned video streaming platform has now reportedly started rolling out a redesigned version of the playback speed box. This is said to allow users to control the playback speed more intricately. This feature was teased by the company previously. A report claims that it is now coming to Android and iOS users. It is expected to be available to all users globally soon.

YouTube Playback Speed Feature Redesign

According to a 9to5Google report, YouTube is rolling out a redesigned version of the playback speed feature. The report adds that the feature is available for YouTube version 19.43 on Android and 19.44 on iOS. With the updated version, if users go to Settings > Playback Speed, a rectangular pop-up box appears at the bottom of the screen.

Within the box, a row of five preset speed options are shown as pill-shaped buttons — 0.25, 1.0 (Normal), 1.25, 1.5, and 2.0. Besides these, the box shows an adjustable slider. It allows users to fine-tune playback speed in 0.5 increments. The selected speed is shown above the slider, and adjustments can be made by dragging the slider or by tapping the plus and minus buttons on either side of the slider.

Previously, the Playback Speed menu opened in a long pop-up box that covered almost half of the lower half of the screen. The layout resembled the design now used for the sleep timer feature. Users were offered only specific preset speed options (0.25x, 0.5x, 0.75x, Normal, 1.25x, 1.5x, 1.75x, and 2x) to choose from. 

Notably, YouTube mentioned the “fine-tunable playback speed” feature in a blog post in October this year where it announced that it will start rolling out about two dozen updates across web, mobile, TVs, and YouTube Music apps.

YouTube announced several new and updated features in October. Among them were a new sleep timer, a resizable miniplayer, and some visual improvements. The Alphabet-owned video streaming platform has now reportedly started rolling out a redesigned version of the playback speed box. This is said to allow users to control the playback speed more intricately. This feature was teased by the company previously. A report claims that it is now coming to Android and iOS users. It is expected to be available to all users globally soon.

YouTube Playback Speed Feature Redesign

According to a 9to5Google report, YouTube is rolling out a redesigned version of the playback speed feature. The report adds that the feature is available for YouTube version 19.43 on Android and 19.44 on iOS. With the updated version, if users go to Settings > Playback Speed, a rectangular pop-up box appears at the bottom of the screen.

Within the box, a row of five preset speed options are shown as pill-shaped buttons — 0.25, 1.0 (Normal), 1.25, 1.5, and 2.0. Besides these, the box shows an adjustable slider. It allows users to fine-tune playback speed in 0.5 increments. The selected speed is shown above the slider, and adjustments can be made by dragging the slider or by tapping the plus and minus buttons on either side of the slider.

Previously, the Playback Speed menu opened in a long pop-up box that covered almost half of the lower half of the screen. The layout resembled the design now used for the sleep timer feature. Users were offered only specific preset speed options (0.25x, 0.5x, 0.75x, Normal, 1.25x, 1.5x, 1.75x, and 2x) to choose from. 

Notably, YouTube mentioned the “fine-tunable playback speed” feature in a blog post in October this year where it announced that it will start rolling out about two dozen updates across web, mobile, TVs, and YouTube Music apps.