Google's AI assistant Gemini is becoming increasingly difficult to avoid, and according to The Verge's Allison Johnson, writing on May 19, 2026, it's starting to grate on users the same way Microsoft Copilot did on Windows 11. The sparkle icon that represents Gemini has been creeping into every corner of Google's ecosystem — inboxes, Google Drive, and numerous other apps — at what Johnson describes as "a relentless pace." The concern is that Google will announce even more Gemini integrations at this week's Google I/O conference, and many users are hoping the company has taken note of how badly Microsoft's aggressive Copilot push backfired with its user base.
Despite her frustration, Johnson is quick to point out she actually uses Gemini quite regularly. She describes using it to build an app that helps schedule daily chores, chats with the assistant on every Android phone she reviews, and has even started downloading it on iPhones. She estimates this puts her in roughly "the top 10 percent of Gemini users who don't work at Google." The author has also warmed up to Google's AI overviews that appear atop search results, which were widely mocked in their early days for bizarre recommendations like adding glue to pizza. While acknowledging these features likely contribute to "the death of the open web," Johnson finds them useful for low-stakes queries like plant care instructions or cooking temperatures.
The core tension Johnson identifies is between useful AI integration and AI for its own sake. She acknowledges that Microsoft's Copilot rollout serves as a cautionary tale — shortcuts and features were crammed onto "every surface it could find" despite user irritation. The concern heading into Google I/O is whether the company will follow a similar path with Gemini in Workspace apps, potentially alienating users who appreciate the tool but don't want it forced upon them at every turn.