Google App Now Saves Your AI Mode History
▼ Summary
– The Google app on Android is adding a persistent AI Mode history button in the Home tab, replacing the Labs beaker icon.
– Tapping this button slides over recent AI chats for quick access, mirroring the Gemini app’s integration.
– The AI Mode homepage has been updated for consistency, moving the history icon to the left and replacing the back button with a down chevron.
– Search Labs has been relocated to the account menu under Settings for managing experiments.
– This change, already live on iOS, is now rolling out to users in the Google app beta on Android.
The Google app for Android is introducing a significant update that makes your past conversations with its AI assistant more accessible. This change centers on a redesigned history feature, allowing users to seamlessly revisit previous interactions directly from the app’s main screen. This move signals a deeper integration of AI capabilities into the core search experience, making the tool feel less like a separate experiment and more like a fundamental part of how you use Google.
Previously, you would find a Labs beaker icon in the Home tab, also known as the Discover feed. That icon has now been replaced with a dedicated button for your AI Mode history. This button recently evolved from a circular design to its current lined appearance. A simple tap slides a panel into view, displaying your recent chats. This lets you quickly pick up where you left off in any conversation, mirroring the functionality found in the standalone Gemini app’s menu. The goal is to create a smoother, more intuitive workflow for users who regularly engage with the AI.
The interface within the AI Mode homepage itself has also received subtle refinements for consistency. The history icon now consistently appears on the left side of the screen. Meanwhile, the standard back button has been swapped out for a down-facing chevron positioned on the right.
In a related organizational shift, access to Search Labs has been relocated. It is no longer front and center in the main interface. Instead, you can now find it as the first item listed under the account menu, right below Settings. This new placement provides a centralized hub where you can view available experiments, choose to join them, or exit any previews you are currently testing.
This update to persistent AI history is not entirely new for Google’s ecosystem. The same functionality has been available in the Google app for iOS since last December. iPhone users have the added convenience of being able to swipe to open their history panel. For Android users, the feature is currently rolling out to those enrolled in the Google app beta program, specifically starting with version 17.9. This gradual release allows Google to gather feedback and ensure stability before a wider public launch.
(Source: 9to5Google)
