Google is working on a new way to let people select and share text in its Gemini AI chatbot. Right now, copying parts of a message takes a few steps, but soon you might just press and drag your finger to highlight words. This change would make chatting with Gemini faster and simpler.
How Gemini’s Text Selection Works Now
If you want to copy part of a Gemini message today, you need to do this:
- Press and hold the message or tap the three dots.
- Tap “Select text” to go to a new screen.
- Press and drag to highlight the words you want.
- Tap “Copy” or “Share.”
It works, but copying numerous pieces of text takes some time. For instance, if the recipe from Gemini involves many steps, you will need to repeat everything to keep all the steps handy.
The New Drag-and-Select Feature
Google is testing a better way. Soon, you might be able to:
- Press and hold any word in a message.
- Drag your finger to highlight sentences.
- Tap “Copy” or “Share” right away.
This is like highlighting text in a book. You do it all in one place without switching screens. It is great for saving time, especially if Gemini gives you a paragraph answer.
What the New Feature Can’t Do Yet
The tool has some limits. If Gemini sends a list with bullet points, you can only copy one point at a time. For example, if Gemini writes “pineapple,” you are required to copy it to your list individually. If you would like all the information, it is inconvenient.
Maybe Google will fix it in the future. Right now, you could ask Gemini to turn lists into paragraphs to make them easier and quicker to copy.
When Will This Feature Arrive?
A test version of the Google app included the new tool. Still, beta testers are not able to start using the app. Before launching a new product, Google develops the idea in secret for testing. Occasionally, these ideas shift or are called off. Google may roll out the feature to all if they are happy with it over the following few months.