Gemini Enables File Editing in Chat, Including PDFs on Mobile

Google activates editing and previewing of files within Gemini conversations. PDFs work on both Web and mobile, while other formats remain limited to the Web. A subtle visual refresh is being rolled out on Android.

A New Visual Cue is Rolling Out on Android

The Gemini app on Android is undergoing a slight visual change. Until now, activating it via the dedicated button displayed a pill with sharp edges, accompanied by a multicolored halo to indicate the AI in use. It has been observed that Google is now blurring the edges of this pill to enhance the visual cue. This change is already present on the Pixel 11 and is being rolled out to other models. To obtain it, a Gemini update is necessary. The rollout appears to be happening in waves, and on some non-Pixel smartphones, the old design was still visible during observation.

Edit Directly in the Chat, Select and Preview

Gemini now allows users to modify files without leaving the conversation. After generating a document, the user can request corrections, including on specific passages. Google indicates that one can create, preview, and edit from the thread, switch to full screen to make changes, highlight text to ask questions, or let the AI optimize the content. PDFs benefit from previewing and editing on both Web and mobile. The other mentioned formats, including Docs, Sheets, presentations, Markdown, TXT, and code, are currently editable only on the Web. Google is releasing a short explanatory video.

Accelerated Use Cases and Catching Up with Rivals

Previously, modifying a file required downloading it and editing it separately. The ability to act within the conversation is presented as a potential gain, especially for quickly producing presentations or browsing long documents. This direction is also described as aligning with competing services, with Microsoft cited among those already offering this type of interaction. However, the scope remains distinct depending on the formats, with PDFs operational on both Web and mobile, while Docs, Sheets, presentations, Markdown, TXT, and code are only available on the Web.