Overview
- Recent stable-channel sightings show Chrome switching to a split layout with a slim top bar for the address and a thicker bottom bar for New Tab and other controls.
- The bottom bar includes a dedicated Gemini shortcut that gives Google’s AI assistant a prominent, one-tap position in the mobile UI.
- The redesign still supports a full bottom-bar option, but the bar has been made thicker to make room for the Gemini button.
- Google announced Gemini integration in May but the rollout has been slow and inconsistent, with identical devices sometimes showing different interfaces and the promised end-of-June start not happening.
- The change builds on last year’s reachability-focused bottom bar and could shift how people access search and AI features on tall phones while raising questions about platform parity and user control over prominent AI shortcuts.