End of searching in settings? Gemini on Pixels can fix the phone itself

The classic “have you tried turning it off and on again?” might soon be taken over by artificial intelligence. Google is testing a feature called Device help for the Pixel 11 series, which turns Gemini into technical support for your own phone. Instead of searching for help, you’ll simply chat about the problem.

Not just advising, but also intervening

The scope of the feature is broader than the name suggests. Gemini is expected to be able to advise on connectivity issues, battery life, sound, and lagging apps, and guide you step-by-step through setting up gestures, camera, or privacy. More importantly, it won’t be limited to talking – it can change phone settings itself, free up storage space, review app permissions with you, manage notifications, or set time limits for individual apps.

This shift from advice to action is the most interesting aspect of the whole thing. For inexperienced users, it can be a huge relief, as half of phone problems stem from settings that no one can find. At the same time, allowing a language model access to system settings requires a certain level of trust – and it will depend on how well the feature recognizes when it’s unsure.

So far, only for a select few

Enthusiasm should be tempered twice over. The feature is labeled Labs, meaning an experiment, and is currently only appearing in beta version 17.52 of the Google app for a limited number of users. You can find it in the menu under the plus button, at the very bottom above the Personal Intelligence item. When and if it will ever reach everyone, Google has not specified – and as is well known, even a regular widespread rollout of features at this company takes a good few months.

Would you let artificial intelligence mess with your phone settings?

Source: GSMArena, 9to5Google