Google is working on a new button on the Android lock screen that might trigger a Gemini function. According to a report, the button resembles the Gemini icon, but it might also refer to artificial intelligence (AI) in general.
The newly added feature was discovered in the latest beta version of Android 15, but it is not yet available to testers. According to reports, the button might launch the Gemini virtual assistant, providing a new option to activate the AI-powered chatbot.
According to an Android Authority report, the button appears in the Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 update. It was discovered as a flag and is not an implemented feature that beta testers will see. However, triggering the flag activates a lock screen button with a single sparkle icon, which the Mountain View-based company only utilizes with Gemini.
According to the screenshot shared by the publication, the button is located at the bottom of the lock screen, underneath the fingerprint sensor. It is a pill-shaped button that is larger than the fingerprint scanning area and the quick action buttons are located in the two bottom corners. The button apparently did not function when the publication tried it, but it is expected to be activated in future updates.
According to the report, the button might activate the Gemini virtual assistant. While this is a possibility, users can now invoke the assistant in three ways: by pushing the power button, long pressing the home button, or swiping up from the corner, as well as by saying “OK Google” or “Hey Google.” Adding another way to open up the same functionality might be unnecessary.
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Instead, the button may activate a new AI capability powered by Gemini. The timing of the feature indicates that it is unlikely to be included in the Android 15 update. Meanwhile, Android 16 is not scheduled to be released until the middle of 2025, when this button’s use case could be revealed. It might trigger a completely new functionality comparable to the Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 series.
It should be noted that we were unable to verify the feature, and Google did not confirm it in any way. As a result, any information about the Gemini AI button should be used with caution. If the company is really preparing such a feature, it should be announced at next year’s I/O event.
