Google is working to integrate Gemini AI chatbot into as many productivity tools as possible. The most recent is the Files by Google app, which now automatically activates Gemini analysis when you open a PDF Document document.
This feature, first shared on the Reddit r/Android community, is now available for devices running Android 15. Digital Trends tested it on a Pixel 9 running the stable version of Android 15 and the file manager app. Latest from Google.
If you open a PDF in the Files app and activate Gemini by swiping the screen or power button shortcut, the chat interface will display an “Ask about this PDF” notification chip right above.
You just need to click on this chip, the PDF file will be integrated into the Gemini chatbot, ready for processing by the AI model. Then, simply enter your question, and Gemini will respond in natural language after analyzing the PDF content.
This is one of the most elegant Gemini integrations, eliminating the hassle of importing PDF files into other standalone AI applications, including Gemini's mobile app.
If this feature has not appeared on your Files app, there is another way to experience it, you just need to:
- Open the Gemini app.
- Tap the plus icon in the Ask Gemini chat bubble.
- Attach the required PDF file.
Users can select PDF files directly from internal memory or download directly from Google Drive. Thanks to its multimodal capabilities, the Gemini chatbot can also access and understand media content from the device's photo library.
However, if you don't want to pay, a free option worth considering is Google's NotebookLM. This tool supports analyzing information from files, URLs, and even YouTube videos.