auto expand control strip when no app specific controls are showing

While there isn’t an automatic way and I don’t think itll ever be possible, (system doesn’t allow apps to read each other’s touchbar) you could manually assign a list of apps to do this...

e.g;
I make a new conditional activation group
Dictionary has no touchbar support
I add it as a condition: If dictionary is running then open the group

as I find more blank apps I add it to the group

(ad: you might want to take a look into my preset AquaTouch to see something similar, then apply it to your personal preset or something)