I swapped Siri for Gemini on my iPhone – here's how it went

Oh, Siri, why have you forsaken me? Yes, I’ve become increasingly frustrated with Apple’s voice assistant. There are just too many times when Siri fails to respond properly to my request, misunderstands my question, admits defeat right off the bat, or gives me the wrong answer. My impatience has grown as Apple’s plans to enhance Siri have been postponed yet again.

On the flip side, I’ve become fond of Google’s Gemini AI, which has proven more capable and helpful. I’m also a Gemini Advanced subscriber, a perk that costs me only $10 monthly with my mobile plan. As such, I can use the AI’s newest features and enhancements.

Also: Google launches Gemini with Personalization, beating Apple to personal AI

By default, triggering Gemini on an iPhone isn’t as quick and easy as calling on Siri. But with the latest updates, the Gemini app is now more versatile. With the right tricks, you can launch Gemini in whatever mode you want. With that in mind, I recently tried to see if I could replace Siri with Gemini. Here’s how it went.

First, you’ll need to download and install the Gemini iOS app if you don’t have it. If you already use the app, update it to the latest version. In recent months, Google has packed its AI app with many cool, new features.

You can then access Gemini on an iPhone a couple of different ways.

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One tried and true method is through a Siri shortcut. With the latest version of Gemini, the Shortcuts app offers three different modes for using Google’s AI: 1) Type your request at the Gemini prompt; 2) Open Gemini with the microphone active; and 3) Talk live with Gemini. You can set up a shortcut for one specific mode or shortcuts for all three.

With the latest widgets, you can launch Gemini from Control Center and the Lock screen. Plus, you can choose a specific mode for working with Gemini, such as typing your request at the prompt, using the microphone, talking to Gemini Live, snapping a photo, uploading an image for analysis, or sharing a file.

Create Siri shortcuts for Gemini

I first tried setting up Siri shortcuts for my favorite Gemini modes. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone and make sure you’re at the Shortcuts screen. Tap the plus icon at the top to start a new shortcut. In the Search Actions field, type Gemini to see the three different actions available. I chose the one for Open Gemini mic, meaning open the app with the microphone activated so I can begin speaking. At the next screen, tap Done:

When I set this shortcut up, Siri would confuse the word mic with the name Mike and fail to run it. To fix this issue, I had to rename the shortcut. Just press down on it and select Rename. Choose a name that won’t confuse Siri and then tap Done. I changed the name to Open Gemini microphone:

Close the shortcuts app. When I want to trigger Gemini in microphone mode, I say: “Siri, open Gemini microphone.” Gemini opens with the microphone active. I speak my question or request, and the response is read aloud to me:

I also like to chat with my AIs, so I set up a second shortcut to open Gemini Live. Back at the Shortcuts app, tap the plus icon, search for Gemini in the Actions field, and choose Talk Live with Gemini. After tapping Done, press down on the new shortcut, choose Rename, and give it a different name. I renamed the shortcut Open Gemini Live.

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Outside the Shortcuts app, say: “Siri, open Gemini Live.” The AI opens in conversation mode where you can have a back and forth chat with it:

Set up Gemini in Control Center

Another quick way to access Gemini is through Control Center. Depending on the mode you choose, you can launch Gemini by tapping its Control Center button.

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To set this feature up, swipe down from the top of the screen, tap the plus icon in the upper-left corner, and select the option for Add a Control. Swipe down the screen of controls until you see the ones for Gemini. Tap the control or controls you prefer, and they’ll appear in the next available spot in Control Center.

I set up one control for Talk Live and another for Open mic. To trigger the Gemini control at any time, swipe down from the top and tap its Control Center icon:

Set up Gemini on the Lock screen

You can trigger Siri from the Lock screen, so why not do the same for Gemini? Here, ensure your phone is already on the Lock screen, press down anywhere on the screen, and then tap the Customize button. Depending on your Lock screen image, you should see a section for Add Widgets near the top. Tap that section and then swipe down the screen of available widgets:

Tap the entry for Gemini. You can now select a specific action. I chose the one for Type prompt to let me type my request at the Gemini prompt. Since I had more space in the Widgets area on the Lock screen, I also added ones for Talk Live and Use Camera.

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When finished, return to your Lock screen, tap Done, and then tap the image. You should now have three different Widgets on the Lock screen to trigger Gemini in three different modes:

So how did my switch from Siri to Gemini work out?

Well, I still tend to call on Siri since I’ve been using it for so many years. But when I remember to use Gemini instead, the answers are typically more helpful and insightful.

The one thing I can’t do with Gemini is launch or activate features and apps on the iPhone itself. For that, I still need Siri. In those cases, Siri usually responds correctly. But it’s good to know I can turn to Gemini when I need a true AI that can answer questions that would otherwise stump Siri.