Google adds multitasking bubbles to Gemini Android overlay
A new update allows the AI assistant to process requests in the background via a minimizable floating icon.
Google is redesigning the Gemini overlay on Android to allow for seamless multitasking, moving the AI away from a restrictive modal interface. The update introduces a floating bubble that lets users minimize the assistant without terminating their active session.
According to reports from Android Authority and PhoneArena, the update transforms the Gemini overlay into a minimizable floating icon when a user taps away from the interface. This allows the AI to support background processing, meaning Gemini can continue working on a complex task after being minimized and will notify the user once the response is ready. Abdullah Asim of PhoneArena noted that backing out of the overlay will no longer end the session, but instead trigger a small floating icon at the bottom of the screen that users can tap to resume the conversation exactly where they left off.
The friction of modal AI
Previously, the Gemini overlay operated as a "locked-in" experience. If a user tapped the background or navigated away, the overlay was dismissed and the active session ended. This forced users to either start their request from scratch or manually search through their chat history within the full Gemini app to recover a task. This design created significant friction for users attempting to use the AI as a supportive tool while simultaneously interacting with other mobile applications.
Integration into mobile workflows
This shift toward a bubble-based interface reduces the cumbersome nature of generative AI on mobile devices. By enabling session persistence and background processing, Google is transitioning Gemini from a disruptive pop-up into a flexible, integrated assistant. This allows the AI to fit into a natural multitasking workflow, where a user can trigger a request and continue browsing or working in another app without losing their place in the dialogue.
Beta discovery and rollout
The new functionality was uncovered in version 16.51.52.sa.arm64 beta of the Google Android app. Technical details indicate that the minimized interface utilizes a floating bubble featuring the Gemini "spark" logo to signal its active state. While the feature has been spotted in beta builds, Google has not yet announced a wide release date for all Android users.