Android 16 Set to Supercharge Gemini AI with Extensive App Integration

Android 16's AI upgrade set to leave Apple Intelligence playing catch up -- here's what we know about the possible Gemini enhancements

The first developer preview for Android 16 rolled out last month, and we've now learned it could change how Google Gemini works on your phone. We've heard a lot about Android 16 in recent months, primarily regarding its shockingly early release date. There have also been reports regarding possible features, including a change to how we use our phones in the dark. However, a recent APK teardown from Android Authority has revealed what might be the biggest change yet regarding Gemini's access to other apps and how we use the AI. Previously, lines of code found in the update indicated that Gemini could soon set reminders through an extension. But deeper digging has revealed that isn't the only possible extension applied in the update. In the code, Android Authority's APK found several extensions that link to several key apps on their Samsung test device, giving Gemini unparalleled access. The list of possible extensions and features is pretty broad and covers a lot of the main functions of a phone. For instance, Gemini could capture images through the Android camera app, while also creating and finding website bookmarks through the browser. Not only that, it seems that Gemini can link to the Calendar app to create and find events and use a map extension to find routes and location information. Gemini being given access to more apps is interesting, and would help to set it as the central hub for all a device's features. This change will be improved by the recent release of Gemini Live to Android users, which helps to make conversation with the AI feel seamless. It should also be a concern for Apple, which are still working to release many of the Apple Intelligence features promised during Apple's Glowtime event, including Personal Context, which could offer similar versatility to the alleged Android 16 feature. It should be noted that features found in an APK aren't always completed, so we will only know for sure when Android 16 releases. However, we can be sure that the update will offer improvements large and small to many of the current best Android phones.

Android 16 gets ready to let Gemini control everything from alarms to video (APK teardown)

We now have a better idea of what Gemini may be capable of with Android 16. Google rolled out the first developer preview of Android 16 last month. Since its release, we discovered some interesting tidbits about the next OS, such as a new feature called "app functions." This feature would allow Gemini to "perform actions on behalf of users inside applications," like an AI agent, without the need for extensions. We have now uncovered what could be a list of these Android 16 app functions. We reported earlier on finding strings of code in the Google app (beta version v15.49.40) that indicated that Gemini could soon let users set reminders in the Samsung Reminders app through an extension. However, this feature could also let Gemini access other services as well. After digging further, we stumbled upon several more extensions in the works and they all seem to circle back to Android 16's app functions feature. With the appropriate app extensions active, Gemini would be able to do things like create alarms in Samsung Clock, delete notes in Samsung Notes, update a task in Samsung Reminders, and so on. These abilities leverage Android 16, so a platform update may be all that's needed to give Gemini these functions without the need for extensions. So what are all of the functions Gemini will be able to perform when Android 16 launches? We're still piecing that together, but we may have gotten a hint from the Samsung Reminder app. It appears Gemini will be able to perform different kinds of tasks depending on the category. From the Samsung Reminder app, we were able to extract the following categories, and the functions within them: None of these functions are currently live. Gemini could get even more functions than this, but that's unclear at the moment. We'll let you know if we manage to dig up evidence of any more.