This is the best thing about the ever-evolving wave of AI on our phones

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 using various Galaxy AI features.
(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)
Disclaimer

Enjoy our content? Make sure to set Android Central as a preferred source in Google Search, and find out why you should so that you can stay up-to-date on the latest news, reviews, features, and more.

Beyond the Alphabet

Android Central's LLoyd with a projection with a Google logo

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Beyond the Alphabet is a weekly column that focuses on the tech world both inside and out of the confines of Mountain View.

No, I'm not talking about the features that Apple, Google, and Samsung try to sell you on in the various ads and commercials. That's cool and all, but the commonality between a phone that costs almost $2,000 and one that's less than $200 is that they can all download the same AI apps.

Currently, the most prominent players are Gemini, ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, Perplexity, Grok, and DeepSeek. All of those apps, and many more, are available on either platform, ensuring you'll always have access to your conversations and creations. Yes, there might be times when the iOS version of ChatGPT gets something first, but the same can certainly be true for Gemini on Android.

At the time of this writing, ChatGPT holds the top spot in the Play Store, and the next AI chatbot app doesn't appear until Microsoft Copilot, in tenth place. Surprisingly, the opposite is true on the Apple App Store, where Google Gemini is the current top free app, followed by ChatGPT in second and DeepSeek in fifth. It just goes to show that Google's marketing is paying off, although there's definitely an argument to be made about the iPhone being a better Google phone than Android.

Apple's playing catch up

Screenshot of WWDC with Apple Intelligence and Apple devices on the screen

(Image credit: Apple)

Of course, there's another side to the coin here, and it's one that re-opens the age-old "iOS vs. Android" debate. Simply put, Siri is awful and can't hold a candle to Gemini, ChatGPT, or even DeepSeek. Apple is so far behind the 8-ball here that it partnered with OpenAI and Google when introducing "Apple Intelligence" last year.

Recently, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reports that Apple "is planning to launch its own artificial intelligence-powered web search tool next year, stepping up competition with OpenAI and Perplexity AI Inc." Based on the report, this just sounds like it will be an Apple-branded version of Gemini, as Gurman says "The companies reached a formal agreement...to evaluate and test a Google-developed AI model to help power the voice assistant."

However, Apple isn't stopping there, as this AI-powered search will also be implemented in Siri. But instead of trying to figure out the score of the game or find the name of a brand, it's said that Siri will finally be able to "tap into personal data and on-screen content to better fulfill queries." By pulling resources from other departments and refocusing its efforts, Apple could deliver this enormous overhaul as soon as March 2026 with iOS 26.4.

Even so, while we all wait for this big AI overhaul, you can still download apps like Gemini, ChatGPT, Copilot, or Perplexity and perform many AI-related tasks we hope to see from Apple and Siri.

Everyone else is widening the gap

The Gemini app on a Google Pixel 10 Pro XL

(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)

Meanwhile, Google has just announced new Gemini models, along with a complete overhaul and revamp of the Google Home app. Additionally, Gemini will be available on our existing smart speakers and Nest Hubs, a feature we've been eagerly awaiting.

At the same time, OpenAI recently announced "Instant Checkout in ChatGPT," allowing users to make purchases using AI. It also introduced "ChatGPT Pulse," which will "deliver personalized updates based on your chats, feedback, and connected apps like your calendar."

Gemini 2.5 Pro on the Galaxy Chromebook Plus, ChatGPT on the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Claude on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

Why does any of that matter? Because all of those new features from Google and OpenAI will soon be available on any phone (if they aren't already). So, sure, needing to download an app isn't as seamless as just having it integrated at the OS level. But does it really matter given the abundance of options at our disposal, especially when you can just pick the app that works best for you in any particular instance?

To answer my own question, no, it doesn't really matter. At least for now.

Andrew Myrick
Senior Editor — Smartphones (North America), Chromebooks & Tablets

Andrew Myrick is a Senior Editor at Android Central. He enjoys everything to do with technology, including tablets, smartphones, and everything in between. Perhaps his favorite past-time is collecting different headphones, even if they all end up in the same drawer.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.