Gemini adds switching tools
Google’s Gemini rolled out switching tools and memory-import features that let users migrate chat history and settings from rival assistants—an interoperability push aimed at lowering switching costs and accelerating adoption. That capability reframes retention metrics and creates new product questions about privacy, data portability, and trust. (innovation-village.com; punemirror.com)
Google published a March 26, 2026 blog post by Group Product Manager Maryam Sanglaji that formally announced the Gemini switching tools and the Import Memory/Import Chat History flows. (blog.google) The Import Memory flow gives Gemini a suggested prompt that users paste into their previous AI, then paste the responding summary back into Gemini so the assistant can analyze and save those details. (blog.google) For full chat archives Google supports users uploading exported ZIP files from other services, and the company says imported chats can be searched inside Gemini after ingestion. (techcrunch.com) Google says the new import options appear on the Gemini Settings page and that the rollout to consumer accounts began on March 26, 2026. (blog.google) TechCrunch noted the feature is explicitly tactical: OpenAI reported about 900 million weekly active users for ChatGPT while Google disclosed Gemini surpassed 750 million monthly active users in its Q4 earnings, underscoring the competitive motive to lower switching friction. (techcrunch.com) Reporting based on TestingCatalog leaks and follow-up coverage warns imported conversations would be stored in a user’s Gemini activity and could be used to help train Google’s models, creating explicit data‑use tradeoffs for people migrating sensitive histories. (eweek.com) Google also rebranded the app’s “Past chats” UI to “Memory” and described imported memories as including “key preferences, relationships, and personal context” such as interests or a sibling’s name. (blog.google)
