Google is continuously improving the Gemini AI experience by integrating its capabilities across different screens on your smartphone. In August, we saw the introduction of the “Ask about this screen” and “Ask about this video” chips with the Gemini overlay, the latter answering any specific questions you might have about a YouTube video. These features were originally previewed during I/O 2024 in May, including an “Ask about this PDF” functionality for answering questions about long PDF files. This particular feature is finally rolling out to users of Google’s File Manager app for Android.The inclusion of Ask Me About This PDF Chip is part of the Files by Google update that launched last week, at least according to the changelog published in the Play Store listing. Google mentioned at the time that the option was “coming soon.” It appears to be finally happening, based on a tip received by Android Police contributor Mishal Rahman.
Posting on the r/Android subreddit, Rahman said that the feature is rolling out to users now, though it’s not available to all Gemini users. As Google notes in the Play Store listing, Ask Me About This PDF requires a Gemini Advanced subscription, setting Gemini as the default assistant on your Android phone, and a device running Android 15.
Instantly shorten long PDFs
Gemini Ask About This PDF and Ask About This Video
Discord user Rob Rahman was kind enough to share a screenshot with us to show how it works. Unlike the Ask About This Screen option we mentioned above, Ask About This PDF’s chip is centered above the Gemini overlay, similar to YouTube’s Gemini integration. When available, users will be able to find this new PDF chip by triggering the Gemini overlay — either by holding down the power button or by saying the “Hey Google” hotword — while viewing a PDF file in Files by Google.
Unfortunately, this new chip isn’t yet widely available, and I can’t see it when I activate the Gemini overlay inside a PDF. Instead, I’m greeted by the familiar Ask About This Screen chip in PDF, which captures a screenshot of whatever’s on the screen but misses the rest of the pages in the PDF.
Hopefully, Google won’t wait too long to make this PDF chip more widely available. Such a feature has the potential to make life a lot easier for users and organizations that have to go through several documents a day. This PDF-related addition comes on top of Files getting Google's own PDF viewer earlier this week.
Files by Google
Apps
18.0MB
Android 8.0 and up
Android
Gemini Ask About This PDF and Ask About This Video
Discord user Rob Rahman was kind enough to share a screenshot with us to show how it works. Unlike the Ask About This Screen option we mentioned above, Ask About This PDF’s chip is centered above the Gemini overlay, similar to YouTube’s Gemini integration. When available, users will be able to find this new PDF chip by triggering the Gemini overlay — either by holding down the power button or by saying the “Hey Google” hotword — while viewing a PDF file in Files by Google.
Unfortunately, this new chip isn’t yet widely available, and I can’t see it when I activate the Gemini overlay inside a PDF. Instead, I’m greeted by the familiar Ask About This Screen chip in PDF, which captures a screenshot of whatever’s on the screen but misses the rest of the pages in the PDF.
Hopefully, Google won’t wait too long to make this PDF chip more widely available. Such a feature has the potential to make life a lot easier for users and organizations that have to go through several documents a day. This PDF-related addition comes on top of Files getting Google's own PDF viewer earlier this week.
Files by Google
Apps
18.0MB
Android 8.0 and up
Android