Google has been quietly revamping the Gemini experience with some pretty handy improvements. One of the big ones in the pipeline is a swipe gesture to make launching Gemini Live feel more natural. The tech giant was also recently spotted working on a compact overlay so you can talk to Gemini Live without having to open a full-screen window. Even better, that new overlay might include a button for Gemini Live’s own spin on Circle to Search.
Thanks to a sharp-eyed teardown of Google’s Android app beta (version 16.25.44.sa.arm64) by Android Authority, we’re finally getting a clearer idea of how Circle to Search might show up inside Gemini Live. This feature has been quietly cooking for a while, with an early peek back in April via a Gemini promo video. Back then, it popped up as a “Circle Screen” option, a floating pen icon that felt a bit rough around the edges.
Smarter button placement
Now, though, the latest clues point to a more polished and better-integrated version in the works, as per Android Authority’s deep dive. Google has been developing a tighter, bottom-of-the-screen overlay for Gemini Live, so you can chat without blowing up your whole screen. One test feature worth watching is a floating “Live” button that shows up in the bottom-left corner when Gemini is tucked away. Tap it, and the compact control bar slides in, giving you quick access to control options.
In the latest round of tweaks, the Circle Screen button in Gemini Live has finally found a more sensible spot, as it no longer awkwardly floats above the overlay. Android Authority also spotted a cleaner interaction: tapping the pen icon now highlights it instead of using that old strikethrough effect.
While there’s no official Circle to Search branding in Gemini Live just yet, it’s pretty clear Google is building something that does the job just as well.
Another feature in the works for Gemini Live is a caption button, tucked just above the new compact bottom overlay. Once you turn captions on during a session, they’ll keep showing even if you shrink the overlay or the button disappears, so you’ll still see everything Gemini says, no matter how small the interface gets.
For now, these updates are still in the testing phase and not widely available to Android users, but they hint at a clear direction for Gemini Live.
