Starting July 7, Google has officially rolled out its AI assistant, Gemini, to WhatsApp, marking a major step forward in integrating artificial intelligence into everyday mobile interactions. This change allows users to send messages or make calls using simple natural language commands, without the need to type everything manually or even mention the app by name.
Gemini Replaces Google Assistant for Messaging Tasks
Gemini is designed to replace the Google Assistant for a variety of mobile functions. Users can now say things like “Send a birthday message to Mario on WhatsApp” or “Call Ana”, and Gemini will take care of the rest by identifying the most recently used app with that contact — in this case, likely WhatsApp — to carry out the task.
This feature aims to streamline everyday communications and comes pre-enabled for all Android users.
Concerns About Privacy and Data Use
Despite its convenience, the integration of Gemini with WhatsApp has raised some privacy concerns. According to reports from tuta.com, several experts have criticized Google for enabling this functionality even for users who have opted out of activity tracking in their AI settings.
Google, however, has stated that it will respect WhatsApp’s privacy policies. Importantly, Gemini will not be able to read or summarize your WhatsApp conversations, and it cannot add or play GIFs, audio clips, or videos in messages. Still, critics worry that Gemini’s broad access to communication apps could increase the risk of exposing personal data.
How to Disable Gemini in WhatsApp
For users who prefer not to use Gemini on WhatsApp, Google provides a way to disable this integration — although Gemini may still assist with other tasks like setting timers or managing calls.
Here’s how you can turn it off:
- Open your mobile browser and go to gemini.google.com.
- Tap the menu icon in the top left corner.
- Select Settings > Help.
- Look for the Apps or Applications section.
- Find WhatsApp in the list of compatible apps and disable it.
A Broader AI Push from Google
This move is part of Google’s broader effort to bring more natural, AI-driven interactions to its ecosystem. A similar improvement has recently been made to Google Chrome on Android, making searches more conversational and intuitive.
At the same time, users are being urged to review their privacy settings, especially as other platforms like Instagram prepare to allow public indexing of user content on Google — a change that’s also sparking debate over control of personal data online.