Google launches a Gemini AI app on Mac

The Verge / 4/16/2026

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Key Points

  • Google launched a new Gemini app for macOS that lets users chat with the AI assistant via a floating interface without switching windows.
  • Users can open the chat bubble with the Option + Space shortcut and share their current window for Gemini to reference.
  • Sharing requires granting Gemini permission to access system information before window content can be used to generate answers.
  • The app can also generate creative content on macOS, including images, videos, and music.
  • The design is positioned as a Mac-style, action-oriented assistant experience, drawing a comparison to an enhanced Spotlight workflow.

Google is launching a new Gemini app on Mac that allows you to interact with the AI assistant without switching windows on your desktop. With the app, you can use the Option + Space shortcut to pull up a floating chat bubble, where you can ask Gemini questions and share your window.

Before sharing your window, you'll need to give Gemini permission to access your system's information before sharing your window. From there, the AI assistant will pull information from what you're looking at to help answer your question.

It looks a bit like Apple's upgraded version of Spotlight, which you can now use to perform actions on your device, as well …

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