Google Gemini Connected Apps Expand Into Business Tools and Everyday Services

Google expanded its Gemini app with Connected Apps, a program that lets users pull selected third-party services into Gemini conversations via settings, @ mentions or direct prompts. The initial lineup spans productivity tools such as Airtable, Linear, monday.com, PandaDoc, Zoho and Wispr AI; creative platforms including Adobe, Picsart, Squarespace and Webflow; and lifestyle services like Apartments.com, Experian, Peloton and SeatGeek. The platform is built on the Model Context Protocol, OAuth 2.1 and a central Connected Console, and Strava said its own read-only, opt-in integration launched in the United States on October 28, 2026.

Google is expanding the Gemini app with Connected Apps , a program that lets people bring selected third-party services into Gemini conversations. The initial rollout spans work tools, creative platforms and consumer services, positioning Gemini as a place to work across connected apps without continually switching tabs. Google says users can enable connections in Gemini settings or call an app into a chat with an @ mention or direct prompt, as outlined in Google's Connected Apps announcement https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/products/gemini-app/new-connected-apps-gemini/ . The practical change is not that Gemini replaces the connected software. Rather, it can use a user-authorized connection to make the relevant app or data available in a Gemini interaction. For teams already using tools such as Airtable, Linear, monday.com, PandaDoc, Zoho, Adobe, Squarespace or Webflow, that could make Gemini a more convenient starting point for tasks that normally require moving between an AI assistant and multiple services. Google's initial partner set covers three broad groups: | Connected App category | Examples in the initial lineup | How it fits Gemini's expansion | |---|---|---| | Productivity | Airtable, Linear, monday.com, PandaDoc, Wispr AI, Zoho | Brings work-oriented services into Gemini conversations. | | Creativity | Adobe, Picsart, Squarespace, Webflow | Extends Gemini's reach into design, content and web creation tools. | | Lifestyle | apartments.com, Experian, Peloton, SeatGeek | Shows the program is intended for everyday services as well as work software. | Connected Apps are a platform-level initiative rather than a one-off integration. Google's Connected Apps Platform documentation describes a standardized path for bringing apps into Google products, including the Gemini app and Google Search. The developer framework uses Model Context Protocol https://scalevise.com/services/mcp-setup , OAuth 2.1 and a central Connected Console. For users, the visible workflow is simpler: connect an available app through Gemini settings, or bring it into a conversation with an @ mention or prompt. That approach matters because it can keep the request and the relevant app context in the same interaction. It also gives partners a common way to build integrations https://scalevise.com/services/api-system-integrations instead of relying on separate, product-specific approaches for every Google surface. The announcement establishes the broad framework, but it does not mean every connected app provides the same functions. Capabilities will depend on the individual integration and the permissions a user grants. Businesses evaluating a connection should therefore assess each app's available actions, data access and regional availability rather than assuming that all partners work identically. Strava provided a concrete example of the program's later expansion when it announced on October 28, 2026 that it had become a connected app in Google Gemini. Its integration can provide personalized training insights based on a user's activity history, including performance-trend analysis and race-specific insights. Importantly, Strava describes its connection as read-only and opt-in . A user must authorize it, and Strava said the rollout was available in the United States across Gemini plans. Those details are specific to Strava, not a confirmed description of every Connected App. Still, they illustrate the kind of permission-based design users should expect when a Gemini conversation draws on information held by another service. For businesses, the strongest near-term opportunity is reducing friction around information that is already spread across tools. A marketer working in creative and web platforms, or an operations team using project and document software, may be able to bring a relevant service into the same Gemini session where they are planning, drafting or analyzing work. https://scalevise.com/services/software-development That is different from claiming that Connected Apps automatically automate a business process. Google has confirmed a way to connect apps and keep tasks within Gemini, but the research does not establish universal workflow automation https://scalevise.com/services/n8n-setup , write access or identical functionality across the lineup. The value will depend on the app, the task and the permissions offered by the integration. Before enabling a connection, decision-makers should clarify a few practical points: Pricing details for the overall Connected Apps program were not provided in the verified material. The confirmed Strava announcement says its Gemini connection is available across Gemini plans in the United States, but that should not be treated as a pricing or availability rule for other partners. Connected Apps can make AI adoption more useful when they are tied to real work rather than isolated experimentation. Scalevise helps businesses assess where Gemini and connected tools fit existing processes, identify realistic use cases and design a practical adoption path. A focused AI implementation consultation https://scalevise.com/services/ai-consultancy can help turn scattered software and AI experiments into a clearer operating approach. Request a consultation to assess your highest-value AI opportunities. What are Google Gemini Connected Apps? Google Gemini Connected Apps are integrations that let users connect selected third-party services to the Gemini app and bring those services into Gemini conversations. Which apps are included in the initial Gemini Connected Apps rollout? Google's initial lineup includes Airtable, Linear, monday.com, PandaDoc, Wispr AI, Zoho, Adobe, Picsart, Squarespace, Webflow, apartments.com, Experian, Peloton and SeatGeek. How do users connect an app to Gemini? Google says users can connect apps in Gemini settings or bring an app into a chat through an @ mention or direct prompt. Is the Strava connection to Gemini read-only? Yes. Strava says its Gemini connection is read-only, opt-in and requires user authorization. Are Gemini Connected Apps available everywhere and on every plan? Availability can vary by integration. Strava announced a United States rollout across Gemini plans, while the verified material does not establish identical regional or plan availability for every connected app. Google's Connected Apps rollout expands Gemini from a standalone assistant toward a hub for user-authorized interactions with third-party services. The initial range of productivity, creative and lifestyle partners is broad, while Strava demonstrates how a specific integration can use opt-in, read-only access to provide tailored insights. The key question for businesses is not simply whether an app can connect, but whether its available permissions and capabilities remove a meaningful step from everyday work.