Dan GoodinJul 3

Interesting article reporting that Android will soon give Gemini broadened access to phones and the apps they run, even when Gemini has not been turned on. Article gos on to say people who don't want this should "open the Gemini app from your Android device" and turn off each app extension. Sounds simple enough, but I'm not finding any Gemini app installed on my pixel. Can anyone help me figure out what precisely people must do too keep Gemini off of their android devices?

https://tuta.com/blog/how-to-disable-gemini-on-android#_

Starting today, Gemini AI will access your WhatsApp and more. Learn how to disable it on Android. | Tuta

Gemini AI needs to be disabled on Android or it will override your privacy settings and gain full access to your texts, calls, and WhatsApp - even if you’ve turned off Gemini Apps Activity. But what does this Android update really mean, and how can you stop it? Let’s take a deep dive!

Tuta
Show threadCatSalad🐈🥗 (D.Burch) Jul 3

@dangoodin To remove the Gemini app, even on devices that do not allow you to disable it in the Apps menu:

𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗔𝗗𝗕

1⁠. Enable Developer options
- Launch ⚙️⁠Settings
- Go to About phone then Software information
- Tap Build number seven times
2⁠. Enable USB debugging
- Go to Developer options (in ⚙️⁠Settings)
- Enable USB debugging
3⁠. Install Android Debug Bridge (adb) on your computer
4⁠. Connect to phone via adb
- Connect with a good USB cable
- Run adb devices
- Click OK on Allow USB debugging?
5⁠. Disable Gemini app (left
- adb shell pm uninstall com.google.android.apps.bard
6⁠. Disable Developer options (recommended)
- Go to Developer options (in ⚙️⁠Settings)
- Disable by toggling On to Off

Android Debug Bridge (adb)  |  Android Studio  |  Android Developers

Find out about the Android Debug Bridge, a versatile command-line tool that lets you communicate with a device.

Android Developers
Show threadcR0w 
@catsalad @dangoodin This is some bullshit. I mean, thanks for figuring it out and sharing, but it should not be this much work to disable a super creepy system that wasn't even a thing when many people purchased their devices.
Jul 3 at 5:59pmWeb
Show threadCatSalad🐈🥗 (D.Burch) Jul 3
@cR0w @dangoodin It really is. Normal non-techy users should not have to know the Android Konami code to access the secret settings to disable Gemini just to keep Google from training their AI on all your private phone data and pictures!
Show threadwebhatJul 3
@catsalad @cR0w @dangoodin regular users should probably disable Developer access on their phones after doing this
Show threadGeneralX ⏯️Jul 4

@webhat @catsalad @cR0w @dangoodin
https://github.com/0x192/universal-android-debloater

(uses the same mechanism, gui)

GitHub - 0x192/universal-android-debloater: Cross-platform GUI written in Rust using ADB to debloat non-rooted android devices. Improve your privacy, the security and battery life of your device.

Cross-platform GUI written in Rust using ADB to debloat non-rooted android devices. Improve your privacy, the security and battery life of your device. - 0x192/universal-android-debloater

GitHub
Show threadDavidJul 5

@generalx @webhat @catsalad @cR0w @dangoodin

IIUC from the readme of UAD that @generalx linked to, you will need to uninstall it again every time the package is automatically reinstalled.

"You will have to run this software whenever your OEM pushes an update to your phone as some uninstalled system apps could be reinstalled."

Would it be better to disable it? I think that would survive updates.

adb shell pm disable com.google.android.apps.bard

Show threadsanpanJul 3
@cR0w @catsalad @dangoodin As if they don‘t want it to be uninstalled… never had a phone running e/OS. Maybe they keep this crap out.
Show threadEliza SwanJul 4
/e/os has been adding OpenAI integrations for speech-to-text, and making them similarly un-disablable from the GUI.

I'm staying on the last version before that addition while I see how the backlash to that pans out and maybe choose another Android distro.

@sanpan

@cR0w @catsalad @dangoodin
Show threadCatSalad🐈🥗 (D.Burch) Jul 4

@spike @cR0w @dangoodin @sanpan Why would they add online OpenAI speech-to-text when apps like FUTO Voice Input work wonderfully offline?

https://gitlab.futo.org/alex/voiceinput

keyboard / VoiceInput · GitLab

FUTO Voice Input application for Android

GitLab
Show threadEliza SwanJul 4
That exact alternative has been brought up in the forums.

Personally, I'm guessing money from OpenAI? (As happened with iNaturalist.)

@catsalad

@cR0w @dangoodin @sanpan
Show threadClinton Anderson SwordForHireJul 4

@cR0w @catsalad @dangoodin

It doesn't seem like much work at all, especially with such a simple and straightforward guide

Thank you for that!

Show threadJohn MaxwellJul 7
@cR0w @catsalad @dangoodin - That's what comes of packaging things as black boxes and training people to believe that they're too stupid to understand anything.
The actual tools for doing anything except spending money in some form are shit; just barely good enough for an expert to work out. (I *am* such an expert, and I 100% agree that this is bullshit.)
Show threadNazo6d ago

@cR0w @catsalad @dangoodin Unfortunately, the fundamental problem is that it's being installed from stuff packed in the OS ROM itself. Essentially "root kitted" for all intents and purposes.

I suppose we should be glad that Google never wanted force stuff like this on people badly enough to remove the ability to disable them this way. But I wouldn't be shocked if this takes off too much if they decide to add some protection to system apps in future systems.