Public AI: Gemini Expands Modes, Apple Keeps Them Hidden

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Key Takeaways

1Claude from Anthropic requested two distinct modes that, until this week, did not share memory

2ChatGPT requires switching between "Chat" and "Work"

3Gemini offers Chat, Spark, and Daily Brief as distinct entries with their icons

💡Why it matters — These interface choices determine how the user initiates tasks, between separate modes, integration with existing uses, or SMS exchange.

Mode-switching assistants, seamless integration into existing apps, or simple SMS: major players in AI are testing competing avenues for everyday use. Anthropic and OpenAI require users to choose a mode, while Apple integrates Siri into familiar gestures. Google, which announced new voice features for Gemini on Wednesday, simultaneously maintains several named entries in its application.

Claude and ChatGPT Enforce Mode Switching

At Anthropic, the Claude application offers two modes, "chat" and "coworker." Until this week, these two modes did not share the memory of past conversations. ChatGPT operates similarly and asks users to switch from "Chat" to "Work." Thus, the issue of mode fragmentation does not only concern Google but also affects other major AI assistants.

SMS Assistants Bet on Ease of Use

Another family of AI services relies on text messaging: the user sends a message to a chatbot, and the assistant executes the request. Among these offerings are Poke, Ollie, Lindy, Orchid, Lucas, Folk, Tomo, and Instinct. This approach is described as a simple and well-understood interface, and some observers note a rise in these services. Justine Moore, a partner at a16z, writes that users want a contact to whom they can send a text like to a friend, with iMessage remaining the reference point.

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At Apple, Siri Integrates into Existing Uses

Apple favors integrating assistance capabilities into already adopted gestures. Spotlight Search, the Photos app, the iPhone camera, and Siri voice queries are enhanced without requiring users to learn a new interface. The company thus improves familiar functionalities rather than introducing distinct modes or surfaces.

Gemini Groups Chat, Spark, and Daily Brief Under Dedicated Entries

Within Google’s Gemini application, users have access to chat, Spark, and Daily Brief, and can navigate from one to another. These three tools are separate, each with its own symbol, and are listed individually in the navigation menu. Daily Brief serves as an AI-powered agenda, providing personalized and proactive updates from information sourced from services like Gmail and Calendar; it can also suggest resuming searches started in the chatbot and recall previous queries made on Google. Spark, on the other hand, is an agent capable of acting on behalf of the user and has been presented as a standalone brand. On Wednesday, Google announced new voice capabilities for Gemini and stated, "You shouldn’t have to guess whether a task requires Spark, a Daily Brief, or a quick search in your inbox," a promise associated with an application designed to handle a variety of tasks by voice.