Google's upcoming Android desktop operating system will feature persistent Gemini AI access through a status bar icon and dedicated keyboard shortcut. Code discovered in the Google app beta version 17.5 reveals the company's plans to make its AI assistant central to the desktop experience.
The interface, currently referred to as Aluminium OS, will display a Gemini icon in the top-right corner of the screen at all times, mirroring macOS's Siri button location. Users can also launch the assistant instantly by pressing the Google Key and Space bar simultaneously.
"Gemini will always be available in the top right corner of your screen,"
Beta strings explicitly state this, with the keyboard shortcut matching Chromebook Plus laptops that already feature a dedicated 'G' key.
This is Google's push to transform its mobile platform into a genuine desktop competitor. Recent leaks show the interface resembles Android's existing desktop mode but with a taller status bar containing the Gemini icon. A video shared by Android Authority shows Gemini animations appearing during the Aluminium OS setup process on a PC.
The company reportedly plans to release a preview of the operating system this year. A LinkedIn job listing previously stated the new desktop OS would have "AI at the core," following DisplayPort support for Android desktop mode introduced in spring 2024.
The persistent access marks a shift from smartphone implementations where the assistant typically appears only when summoned. By keeping the icon constantly visible, real-time AI interaction for tasks like writing, planning, and brainstorming is encouraged without disrupting workflow. This expansion across platforms includes the car version launching on Android Auto earlier this year.
Android's desktop functionality has existed in developer options since 2019 but remained hidden from most users. Samsung's DeX, introduced in 2017, offers a more mature desktop experience with taskbars and draggable windows. The approach integrates AI more fundamentally, potentially enabling Gemini to manage files and organize data in ways not possible on mobile devices.
System strings analyzed by Android Police indicate a broader strategy to make AI "a central pillar of how we interact with our devices," facing competition from Microsoft's Copilot integration in Windows and Apple's Siri on macOS.
All Android apps will need to be registered by verified developers starting in September 2026, adding security layers to the expanding ecosystem as Google develops agentic AI experiences that can control apps and perform actions on users' behalf.
