Is Your Gemini Menu Having an Identity Crisis? The "Labs" Explosion is Here!

Have you ever opened an app and felt like someone rearranged your living room furniture while you were sleeping? You know, that feeling where the couch is suddenly on the ceiling and the TV is in the kitchen? Well, Google just did that to the Gemini app, but—spoiler alert—it actually makes sense. Maybe. Kind of.

If you are tired of scrolling through a chaotic list of AI tools like you are digging through a bargain bin at a discount store, then this update is for you. The Gemini app is growing up, getting organized, and frankly, getting a little bit "experimental" on us.

The article is "Gemini app Tools menu adds ‘Labs’ section, Personal Intelligence toggle."

The Great Divide: Tools vs. Experiments

As the Gemini app picks up more features, Google is improving the organization of the Tools menu on the web with Experimental Labs. It is about time, right?

Previously, the Tools menu on gemini.google.com was just one long list that displayed up to eight items depending on your Google AI subscription. It was a mess. It was the digital equivalent of a junk drawer where you keep batteries, rubber bands, and that one key you don't remember what it opens.

Today’s update separates the prompt box dropdown into two sections. It is a "bifurcation" of sorts—a splitting of the atom of productivity.

Section 1: The "Stable" Tools

This is the serious stuff. The tools that are ready for prime time. The ones you take home to meet your parents.

Deep Research: For when you need to know everything about everything.
Create videos (AI Plus): Because who films things with cameras anymore?
Create images: Your standard "make me a picture of a cat in space" button.
Canvas: The workspace that is trying to kill Google Docs.
Guided Learning: For when you realize you don't know anything.
Deep Think (AI Ultra): The heavy hitter for the big brain moments.

Section 2: The "Labs" (Here Be Dragons)

The Experimental features section is badged with the “Labs” beaker. This is where things get spicy. This is the Wild West of AI.

Agent (AI Ultra): The thing that does stuff for you (scary?).
Dynamic view or Visual layout (all users): Making things look pretty, dynamically.
Personal Intelligence (all paid): The big new toggle that we need to talk about.

It’s a good way to signal stable capabilities and what’s still actively being developed. It separates the "reliable sedan" features from the "rocket-powered unicycle" features.

Deep Dive: The Economics of Your Attention

You might be thinking, "It is just a menu update, why should I care?" But you would be missing the bigger picture. This update sits at the intersection of microeconomics and user interface design.

By cleaning up the interface, Google is reducing the "transaction cost" of your attention. Every second you spend looking for the "Deep Research" button is a second of lost economic growth in your personal labor market.

The "Supply Chain" of Features

Think of these features as goods in a supply chain. The "Labs" section is the R&D department, sending prototypes directly to the consumer. This rapid iteration is crucial in a tech world defined by international conflicts over AI supremacy.

If Google waits until a feature is perfect, they lose. If they release it too early and it breaks, they lose. The "Labs" label is the economic sanction on perfectionism. It allows them to ship "imperfect" goods without the economic repercussions of a full product recall.

Personal Intelligence: The Spy in Your Pocket?

Let's talk about the elephant in the room: Personal Intelligence.

This new toggle allows Gemini to access your Gmail, Drive, and other connected apps to give you better answers. But here is the kicker: it is a per-conversation toggle.

You turn it on, and Gemini becomes your best friend who knows your schedule, your flight details, and that embarrassing email you sent last night. You turn it off, and it forgets you exist.

Privacy in a Time of Geopolitical Tensions

In an era of geopolitical tensions, data privacy is national security. By making this an opt-in, per-chat feature, Google is trying to navigate the minefield of international politics and data regulation.

Imagine you are working on a project involving international trade secrets. You do not want your AI assistant casually reading those documents unless you explicitly tell it to. This toggle is your "kill switch." It controls the supply chains of your personal information.

Note: The toggle resets when you start a new chat. This is a safety feature, not a bug. It prevents "data leakage" from one context to another.

The "Labs" Features: A Closer Look

Let's break down what is actually in this beaker-branded section.

1. Agent (AI Ultra)

This is the feature that promises to do things for you. Not just answer questions, but execute tasks. In the labor market of the future, "Agents" might be the new interns. They can navigate websites, fill out forms, and maybe—just maybe—fix the economy. (Okay, probably not that last one).

2. Dynamic View / Visual Layout

This is about how information is presented. Instead of a wall of text, Gemini can generate interactive layouts. It is like the difference between reading a spreadsheet and watching a movie about a spreadsheet.

3. Personal Intelligence

We covered this, but it bears repeating: Power is nothing without control. This feature gives you the power of personalization with the control of a light switch.

The Macroeconomics of AI Features

Why is Google doing this now? It comes down to macroeconomics and foreign investment in AI.

Investors want to see growth. They want to see "new." But users want "stable." The "Labs" section allows Google to satisfy the investors' hunger for innovation (look at all these new things!) while satisfying the users' need for a tool that doesn't hallucinate when asked to do simple math.

Table: The New Menu Structure

Feature Category	Badge/Icon	Target Audience	Stability Level
Tools	Standard Icon	Everyone / AI Plus	High (Production Ready)
Deep Research	Tool	Research Junkies	High
Create Videos	Tool	Content Creators	Moderate
Labs	Beaker 🧪	Early Adopters	Explosive / Experimental
Agent	Lab	AI Ultra Users	Low (Beta)
Personal Intelligence	Lab	Privacy Conscious	N/A (Toggle)

Main Points of the Update

Organization: The Tools menu is no longer a junk drawer. It is a file cabinet.
Labs: A dedicated space for experimental features. If it breaks, well, you were warned.
Personal Intelligence: A granular, per-chat privacy control.
Agent: The rise of autonomous AI tasks.
Clarity: Clearer distinction between what works and what is a "science experiment."

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Will "Labs" features eventually move to "Tools"?

A: Yes, if they survive. Think of "Labs" as a gladiator arena. Only the strong features graduate to the "Tools" section. The weak ones get deprecated.

Q: Does Personal Intelligence read my emails constantly?

A: No. It only accesses them when the toggle is ON and only for that specific conversation. It is like inviting a vampire into your house; they can't come in unless you invite them.

Q: Is "Agent" going to take my job?

A: That depends on your job. If your job is clicking buttons on a website, maybe. But the labor market is resilient. New jobs will be created (like "AI Agent Wrangler").

Q: Why do I need an AI Ultra subscription for some of these?

A: Because computing power costs money. Economics 101. The best toys are behind the paywall.

Q: Can I use "Deep Research" for my thesis on global conflicts?

A: Absolutely. In fact, it is designed for exactly that kind of heavy lifting. Just double-check the citations.

Conclusion: The Predictable Chaos

The update to the Gemini app is both predictable and confusing. It is predictable because every tech company eventually adds a "Labs" section. It is confusing because, let's be honest, keeping up with AI updates feels like trying to drink from a firehose.

But this separation is good. It brings order to the chaos. It acknowledges that while we want the "explosion" of new features, we also want the safety of a stable tool. It balances the economic impact of innovation with the practical needs of the user.

So, go ahead. Click the beaker icon. Turn on the "Personal Intelligence" toggle (if you dare). Explore the new frontier. Just remember to keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times, because the geopolitical tensions of the AI world are only heating up.

"Contact us via the web."

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Gemini App, Google Labs, international conflicts, geopolitical tensions, economics, economic impact, labor market, international trade, economic sanctions, macroeconomics, microeconomics, economic growth, foreign investment, supply chains, growth, Personal Intelligence, AI Tools.