Google unveils Gemini Intelligence, transforming Android into an AI-first smartphone platform

Android is getting a big AI overhaul in 2026

Google's I/O conference is next week, and we expect to hear a lot about the company's AI endeavors. The company says there's so much to talk about that it's spilling the Android beans a little early, and yes, a lot of AI is involved. In the coming months, Google will roll out more smartphone AI features under the Gemini Intelligence banner, bringing more automation and customization to your phone. App automation will be a major element of Android going forward, Google says. Automation for apps is expanding after Google began testing it earlier in 2026 with DoorDash and Uber on Pixel and Samsung phones. It was a very frustrating experience at launch, but Google says it has spent the intervening months fine-tuning the system. Google promises that Android will be able to handle more complex automations across apps. For example, the robot could find a course syllabus in Gmail and then hop to a shopping app to add the necessary books to your shopping cart. Google also suggests taking a picture of a travel brochure and telling Gemini to book something similar in the Expedia app. This could theoretically reduce busy work, but that's only true if it works and your task takes advantage of the right apps. Android won't just automate any old app on your phone. The automation will only work in select apps, mostly limited to food and grocery ordering and ride-hailing. For everything else, there's Chrome. The Gemini-powered Auto Browse feature that debuted on desktop Chrome several months ago will launch on Android toward the end of June for all Android 12 and higher devices. This feature uses powerful cloud-based Gemini models to parse webpages and handle multi-step tasks for you.

Google brings agentic AI and vibe-coded widgets to Android | TechCrunch

Google announced a number of new Gemini Intelligence-branded AI features at its "Android Show: I/O Edition" event on Tuesday. These include the ability for AI to complete tasks across apps, browse the web, fill out forms, dictate speech, and even allow you to vibe-code your own Android widgets. The company had already introduced some agentic capabilities, such as ordering food or booking a ride, to Gemini at the Samsung Galaxy S26 launch earlier this year. There, Google announced that Gemini would soon be able to perform more complex tasks, like booking a front-row bike for a spin class, finding a class syllabus in Gmail, and then searching for books related to that topic. Now, Google's AI assistant will be able to handle a multistep process, like copying a grocery list from your notes app, then adding items to the cart in your shopping app. To use this feature, you'll press the phone's power button and describe the task. Meanwhile, the content on the phone's screen acts as the context for the assistant. Google noted that Gemini will wait for your final confirmation to complete the checkout. In addition, a feature first introduced in January had allowed Gemini to browse the web for you and complete tasks like booking an appointment, as part of an experimental rollout. Today, Google said this auto browse feature is making its way to Android, too. In late June, Android devices will also get Gemini in Chrome, an AI feature that will help users summarize content or ask questions about what is on the webpage, similar to how Gemini in Chrome works on the desktop. Another small but useful addition is that Gemini will be able to fill out forms on your behalf after learning details about you through Personal Intelligence. (Google said this feature is opt-in, and you can turn it off via settings anytime.) Plus, Gemini will come to Android's Gboard keyboard. Google is using Gemini's multimodal capabilities by introducing a feature called Rambler in Gboard, which is similar to those found in other AI-powered dictation apps. The feature will let you speak in your own tone, transcribe the speech, and format it by removing filler words. Vibe coding apps are picking up pace, and Google wants to give Android users a taste of this, too. The company is introducing a way for users to build Android widgets by describing them in natural language. For example, users can build a meal planning widget using query text like, "Suggest three high-protein meal prep recipes every week." The idea of creating a widget is not novel to Gemini. Notably, the hardware startup Nothing also released a similar tool last year. Google said that Gemini Intelligence will follow the company's Material 3 expressive design language in its features. The company said that these AI-powered features will first make their way to the latest Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices this summer and will be available across other Android devices later this year.

Google Just Took Another Step Toward the AI-First Smartphone

After years of sprinkling AI into its mobile products, Google's fully leaning in. The company is integrating Gemini more deeply into Android, allowing its AI assistant to manage a wider range of everyday tasks across apps -- a move that could fundamentally reshape how people interact with their phones. Rather than you having to bounce between apps for routine tasks like filling out forms, scheduling appointments and making reservations, Gemini will soon be able to handle it all for you. Google wants this upgraded capability, called Gemini Intelligence (not to be confused with Apple Intelligence), to feel like a true assistant -- one that proactively does its job without needing constant instruction. "The difference between the technology of yesterday and the technology of Gemini Intelligence is that it's there with you," Ben Greenwood, a director and product manager for Android Core Experiences, told me in an interview. "I really just want one assistant that I'm working with who understands me and knows me personally. Having that experience [be] consistent across the products I'm using is really important to build trust and ease of use." Google shared the AI updates during its Android Show presentation on Tuesday. Gemini Intelligence will carry out routine actions like creating a shopping order from the grocery list in your notes app. It can autofill complex forms using information stored in connected apps such as Google Drive, like your driver's license or passport number. You can snap a picture of a brochure and ask Gemini to find a tour for a group of six. It can even generate custom widgets based on a simple prompt, such as displaying the temperature in both Fahrenheit and Celsius. You can read CNET's more detailed breakdown of what's coming to Android here. These capabilities add to the handful of Gemini-powered tasks that arrived on Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S26 handsets earlier this year. Gemini Intelligence will also work on Android Auto, Wear OS and Google's smart glasses for a unified experience across devices. Gemini Intelligence will first come to Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones later this summer. Google didn't specify which upcoming Galaxy devices will be compatible, but Samsung is expected to unveil the next generation of its foldables in the coming months. Google is also set to debut new Pixel phones in the summer. Bringing Gemini Intelligence to premium Android devices could give Google an edge over competitors like Apple, which has yet to bring a more intuitive and helpful Siri to the iPhone -- though Google's Gemini models will soon help to power that update as well. Android's AI-centric shift likely spells the beginning of what's to come for the wider industry. For years, tech companies have pointed to a future in which AI will fundamentally transform the way we use our phones. As digital assistants become more capable, they could soon tackle more of the everyday grunt work. Some experts have even predicted that AI will replace the apps on our phones entirely, supplanted by interactive, generative AI platforms that respond to our every command. Why juggle siloed apps for playing music, hailing a ride and sending messages if a virtual assistant can take care of all of that and more? Signs of that transition are beginning to emerge, with reports that OpenAI may be developing its own AI-powered smartphone. If all goes to plan, the company could begin mass production in the first half of next year. Amazon is also reportedly eyeing a reentry into the smartphone market, this time with a handset focused on AI features rather than traditional apps. "Users are not trying to use a pile of apps," industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a report on the OpenAI news last month. "They are trying to get tasks done and fulfill needs through the phone. This fundamentally changes how people think about smartphones." Gemini Intelligence on Android doesn't go as far as eliminating apps on your phone -- at least not yet. But it is designed to curb the amount of time you spend manually completing individual tasks. Google hopes that even people who are weary of the constant stream of AI features will be enticed to try Gemini Intelligence. "We're all a little fatigued of the 'Times Square-AI' kind of experience," Greenwood said, nodding to the growing exhaustion surrounding splashy AI announcements. "How the team has approached this has been to look at, what are real problems that people have and encounter, and how can we help?" He points to a Gemini Intelligence feature called Rambler as an example. On Gboard, Google's Android keyboard, the speech-to-text tool can now filter out self-corrections, repetitions and filler words. For example, if you're texting someone a grocery list and say, "Can you get toast, cereal and bananas -- actually no bananas," it'll only jot down the toast and cereal. Rambler can also tap into Gemini's multilingual model to switch between languages within a single message -- catering to those of us who often mix languages as we speak. "You're not trying to teach a new behavior," Greenwood notes. People who already use the microphone function on their keyboard might not have to think about how AI is optimizing the experience. Autofill is another example of AI quietly handling a task like filling out forms without commanding much attention. Ultimately, it's about getting more things done automatically, without having to spell out what you want. The bigger question is how comfortable people are with letting Google's AI take the wheel a little more often. Either way, the broader shift toward AI-driven smartphones is seemingly well underway.

Your Android phone is getting agentic powers with Gemini Intelligence - here's how and when

Gemini Intelligence will roll out first to Galaxy and Pixel phones. At I/O 2026, Google announced something called Gemini Intelligence. It's the company's next step toward turning Android from a mobile OS into a personal AI agent that can get things done for you on your phone. Also: I tested ChatGPT Plus vs. Gemini Pro to see which is better It can automate multi-step tasks across your Android apps and even enable new features in Chrome, Autofill, Gboard, and widgets. Gemini Intelligence is different from Gemini in Search, where Google's AI can summarize your web results. It's also different from Gemini in Workspace, where it lives inside apps like Gmail, Docs, and Sheets, or the standalone Gemini app, where you open the AI chatbot and ask for help. Gemini Intelligence is built into Android and can understand what's on your screen. With Gemini Intelligence, you won't have to hop between apps to copy information, paste it elsewhere, and do every step yourself. Also: You can turn off Gemini in Gmail, Photos, Chrome - here's how Gemini Intelligence can now handle several different app-based tasks for you. In practice, that could look like helping you get a front-row bike during a spin class, finding a college course syllabus buried in Gmail and adding books to your cart, turning a grocery list in your notes into a delivery, or using a photo of a travel brochure to find a relevant tour on Expedia for six people. For the grocery list scenario, Google described how you can "long press the power button over the list and ask Gemini to build a shopping cart." Or, for the brochure, you can "snap a photo of it and say: 'Find a tour like this...'." These are all examples provided by Google. It said multi-app tasks will run in the background, with progress updates surfaced via notifications, and that you can approve any and all confirmations before they're completed. That is what makes Android more agentic. Gemini Intelligence isn't the same old Gemini experience you're familiar with, where you search a query or provide a prompt, and the AI gives you a paragraph response. It's a system-level operator that understands screen context, acts across apps, and gets work done that would otherwise require app-switching and entering data. Google announced several more Gemini upgrades for Android users -- beyond the broader Gemini Intelligence layer that's handling multi-step tasks across apps. There are additional Gemini Intelligence integrations and improvements to existing Gemini features. Chrome has a Gemini-powered Auto Browse feature, but it's not available on mobile yet. It's in preview and limited to the Chrome desktop app on MacOS, Windows, and Chromebooks. It's agentic, meaning it can work across your open tabs and complete certain online tasks for you, such as building a delivery cart, booking an appointment, or making a reservation. Also: I let Chrome's AI agent shop, research, and email for me In June, Chrome on Android will get a similar Gemini feature that helps you research, summarize, and compare content across the web. But ordering, booking, and reservation tasks will still require Auto Browse on desktop. So, for now, Android users appear to be getting Gemini's ability to work across tabs, with that functionality rolling out in conjunction with Gemini Intelligence. Google offers a Personal Intelligence feature to free and paid Gemini users. It basically connects the AI to your Google apps, including Gmail, Docs, Drive, Photos, and YouTube, to provide more personalized answers. Now, Autofill in Chrome on Android is getting a dash of Personal Intelligence magic to make it easier to complete complicated forms with your specific information. Also: I tried Personal Intelligence, and it was useful (but unsettling) The idea is that, instead of just filling in your name, address, and passwords, Autofill can leverage Personal Intelligence to fill out forms with your personal data pulled from connected Google apps. Google didn't provide an example, but imagine you're filling out a product return form, and Gemini can see your Gmail history to find a receipt and add the order number and other details. Google said this new Autofill experience with Personal Intelligence is entirely opt-in and can be turned on or off in your settings. Getting into the weeds of AI upgrades now, Gboard on Android is gaining a Gemini Intelligence-powered dictation feature called Rambler. It sounds like it's built for anyone who uses voice-to-text and then spends twice as long cleaning up their messages. Also: 6 underrated Android features that are seriously useful Rambler is a real-time transcription tool that takes natural speech, including mid-sentence corrections, filler words like "um," and multilingual switching, and turns it into a better, accurate message. Google said it's designed for the way people actually speak. Last but not least, there is Create My Widget. Google said it's using the power of generative AI to help you create widgets fast. Also: My 7 favorite Android widgets to make your phone more useful You can describe the Android or WearOS widget you want, and Gemini Intelligence will build it for you. Google gave examples like a weather widget that shows wind speed and rain for cyclists or a meal-prep widget. It said you could ask Create My Widget to suggest "high-protein meal prep recipes" weekly and watch as it builds a dashboard to add to your screen. Gemini Intelligence will "roll out in waves" this summer, according to Google. It'll start on the latest Samsung Galaxy and Pixel phones and expand later in 2026 to more Android devices, watches, cars, glasses, and laptops.

Android 17 Is Smarter Than Ever, Thanks to Gemini Intelligence

Blake has over a decade of experience writing for the web, with a focus on mobile phones, where he covered the smartphone boom of the 2010s and the broader tech scene. When he's not in front of a keyboard, you'll most likely find him playing video games or watching horror movies. Android is no longer an operating system, according to Google. It's an "intelligence system." And you only need to look at the handful of newly announced Android 17 features -- most of them tied to Gemini -- to see why. Google is making Android 17 do more of the work for you -- a direction the company has been steadily moving toward. Instead of manually handling every task yourself, many of them will increasingly be managed by Gemini-powered agents. From smarter tools for planning parties to a speech-to-text feature that could outperform anything we've seen on other phones, Google may be right in calling 2026 one of the "biggest years for Android" -- a claim the company made while announcing The Android Show: I/O Edition. Of course, Google has made similar promises about new Android releases before, back when Android updates were still mostly just about the operating system itself. It's important for Google to get this version of Android right as it transitions to an "intelligence system." Google is setting the tone for developer conference season, with both Apple and Microsoft set to follow. That gives the company a chance to demonstrate how its latest AI efforts could transform its biggest operating system before its competitors attempt to do the same. Google is fully embracing the era of agentic AI, doubling down on Android 17 with features designed to handle tasks for you -- often without needing to be asked directly. Alongside Android's new AI-focused enhancements, Google also announced major updates to Android Auto and introduced its new line of Googlebooks, as the company works to close the gap between phones and laptops by putting Gemini at the center of the experience. With several genuinely useful features on the way, here's everything announced at The Android Show: I/O Edition. And with Google I/O still a week away, there are almost certainly more announcements to come. Google says that the shift of Android being an operating system versus an intelligence system comes down to some serious Gemini smarts. Gemini Intelligence is a "system that learns and works for you." We would have honestly been surprised if Google hadn't introduced a nice helping of agentic AI to do things on your behalf, and that's exactly what it's delivering. Agentic AI, in essence, is the ability to offload tasks and let your AI chatbot do them on your behalf. And it's significant that Google wants to do this with the most personal device you own, because the results could truly show how AI could improve our lives and save us time. You can ask Gemini to schedule an appointment with a highly rated dentist, book other appointments and pull up your driver's license information when you need to fill out a form that requires it. Here are a few more highlights of what you'll be able to do with Gemini Intelligence in Android 17 and beyond. Google introduced a more animated, flamboyant version of Material Design last year -- and in 2026, it's adding refinements to Gemini. For Android 17, Google's AI is designed to melt into the background and surface only when you need it. When you're interacting with the AI chatbot, you'll now see visual cues when it's thinking, listening or working on your behalf. The visual updates are meant to attract attention to what's important rather than be distracting. While the new Material Expressive updates are more than some design refinements, we think they look great. From what we've seen so far, the overall design feels very intentional. It's not flashy or over-the-top -- there's no sense of form over function. Instead, it strikes a balance between the two, using subtle visual cues only when needed to communicate specific actions or processes. Chrome Auto Browse is coming to Android in late June. You'll be able to ask Gemini to do things like plan a party, book appointments and locate hard-to-find or out-of-stock items on your behalf. Autofill isn't new to Android 17 -- or to most operating systems, for that matter. But Google is now bringing AI into the feature. Gemini can automatically fill in more complex information, like passport numbers or license plates, across Android apps and Google Chrome with a single tap. From the user's perspective, the experience looks largely the same. What's changed is the intelligence powering it behind the scenes. Widgets have been available for Android 1.5 Cupcake, and they've just received an interesting AI upgrade. You can now ask Gemini to generate a custom widget using information it already knows about you. From the preview we saw, these widgets don't appear to be tied to any one specific app. Instead, they're designed to surface the kinds of information you'd typically ask Gemini for, updating automatically right from your home screen. For example, you could ask Gemini to provide three easy, high-protein meal-prep recipes each week, and have those suggestions refresh automatically in a dedicated widget. We'll need to get some proper hands-on time before we can make any real judgments on the feature, but it could serve as a helpful widget option in the thousands already available. Google has redesigned 4,000 of its own emoji, bringing a touch of realism and more visual flair. The new emoji designs will roll out later this year across Gboard, YouTube and Gmail. The examples Google showed off -- including a bowl of ramen -- featured noticeably more detail, making it easier to distinguish things like noodles from toppings. Basically, they're higher-definition emoji. Google's been working on making the switch to Android even easier, and its latest efforts will make you feel right at home when you finally take the plunge away from other phone ecosystems such as iOS. CNET video producer Carly Marsh had a horrible time getting her iPhone data to transfer onto her Android-powered Motorola Razr, last year -- so this is a welcome update. Now, your home screen shortcuts will be added during the transfer process. This will not only make the transition easier but also save you time from having to start your home screen over from scratch. In addition to home screen updates, the new transfer process will carry your saved passwords over, too. You have an assortment of new Instagram features to look forward to when they arrive on Android. Through a partnership with Meta, Android devices will get true Ultra HDR photo and video support, native video stabilization and the ability to use night mode directly within the Instagram app. Google says that flagship Android devices can now match or best the leading competitor, which, of course, is the iPhone. That's not all for Instagram. Android will soon receive exclusive editing features, including Smart Enhance, which can restore details from blurry photos or videos. There'll also be a new audio feature that separates sound into individual tracks, letting you boost certain elements or remove them entirely. Creating your own reaction video is easier than ever, and no longer requires an intensely involved process of downloading a video, filming yourself and editing the two together. You can now record both your phone's screen and your reaction using your front-facing camera. It's like having a virtual green screen built into your selfie camera. Google's own Gboard keyboard is easily one of the best options for text-to-speech on Android, but it's received updates that make it even better. The aptly-named Rambler is here to make speech-to-text smarter than ever. Instead of dictating exactly what you say, it'll now understand the context and adjust accordingly. During a demo we were shown, a Google rep began dictating a list of items for a grocery list in a text message. As they were listing the items, they backtracked and said, "Actually, no, I don't need bananas." Gboard understood what they meant and listed all of the items on the list, leaving bananas out. After that, they asked it to make the list bullet-style and to add a corresponding emoji to each of the items. Gboard got to work and added the adjustments with no fuss or errors. Recently, Google has been expanding its Quick Share functionality, with the latest addition being its compatibility with Apple's AirDrop. That compatibility will be extended to even more Android phones in the near future. However, compatibility requires certain hardware, so even if your Android phone isn't compatible, it might still work in some apps, such as WhatsApp. A new Digital Wellbeing feature, Pause Point, allows you to label specific apps as "distracting." When opening one of those labeled apps, you'll be greeted with a blocker. This isn't just an app timer, though. Pause Point presents options for you to do something instead of opening the distracting app, such as a breathing exercise or photos to flip through instead. Additionally, you can set a specific app timer for the existing session you're using the app for. Android 17 is becoming smarter than ever, pushing AI into more practical, proactive roles that go beyond what most people are used to today. And when Google's reimagined "Intelligence System" arrives later this year, the company may finally live up to the name.

Google's Gemini Intelligence can fill your shopping cart straight from your notes app

* Agentic AI has eclipsed chatbots; AI now acts on your behalf and doesn't just answer questions. * Gemini Intelligence adds agentic app actions and visual context to Android's assistant. * Rollout starts on the latest Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel this summer; wider Android rollout later in 2026. When AI first hit the scene, the main focus was on building the best chatbot. And in 2025, we saw a lot more progress toward creating a chatbot that accurately answers people's questions and prompts. However, the world of AI moves fast, and by 2026, chatbots were old news. We're all about agentic AI, now. We've seen OpenClaw rock the scene, we've seen Claude Code bring agentic powers to everyone, and now, Google wants in on it. Its new Gemini Intelligence feature brings agentic app actions to your phone, with a few caveats. Agentic AI comes to Android with Gemini Intelligence The feature is launching on only a few phones In a press release, Google pulled back the curtain on its agentic Gemini Intelligence tool (if that name sounds strikingly familiar, you aren't alone -- remember Apple Intelligence?). While chatbots are confined to the window you're talking in, agentic AI can control your device to perform tasks for you. They're great for when you're unsure as to how to achieve something, or if you just want an AI to do a tedious job for you. Gemini Intelligence adds an agentic layer to Google's AI assistant, enabling it to perform tasks within your installed apps. Google gives the following example as to what it's capable of: App automation is even more powerful when you add screen or image context. Instead of manually switching between apps and copying data, Gemini can turn visual context into instant action. Imagine you have a long grocery list on your notes app. Just long-press the power button over the list and ask Gemini to build a shopping cart with all of the items for delivery. Additionally, Gemini Intelligence will act as a browsing assistant in Chrome, allowing users to research, summarize, and compare content across the internet with a feature called Chrome Auto Browse. Google also says that Gemini Intelligence will be able to create custom, AI-generated widgets with natural language prompts and autofill forms with AI. Subscribe to our newsletter for agentic AI insights For deeper coverage of agentic AI like Gemini Intelligence, subscribe to our newsletter to receive clear, practical coverage of agentic features, app automation examples, and what these developments mean for phones and apps. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. If these AI features sound interesting, you'll need to wait a little longer before you can try them. Google says it will release Gemini Intelligence in waves, beginning with "the latest Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones this summer," followed by "your Android devices, including your watch, car, glasses, and laptops" later in 2026.

Everything announced at The Android Show: I/O 2026 edition - Engadget

As companies like Google continue to nudge us toward using agentic AI systems and expand their capabilities, concerns regarding privacy and security continue to grow. The company claims that many of the Gemini Intelligence features harness the same systems that protect other Google products, and that your data will remain within its ecosystem. It said that it's adding additional protections to Android for when the AI systems carry out actions on your behalf to add more protection against risks like prompt injection. Google added in a press release that it's using "technologies like Private Compute Core, Private AI Compute or protected KVM to safeguard ambient data processed by proactive assistance features, like Magic Cue." The company also said that third-party experts have audited "key parts of our AI security architecture," which are open source. The company is touting transparency into what Gemini Intelligence is doing for you as well as how your data is used. For instance, when you're using Rambler speech-to-text, there will be an indicator that makes it clear the feature is enabled. In addition, you'll be able to see when Gemini Intelligence is running (thanks to an icon in the notification bar) and watch its progress on a task in real-time by opening the app it's automating. What's more, you'll soon be able to see on Android Privacy Dashboard which AI assistants were enabled and the apps they tapped into in the previous 24-hour period. Google is also enhancing security in other ways on Android, such as with stronger protections against spoofed phone calls that appear to be from a financial institution. The company has partnered with some banks and other institutions to develop a feature that verifies whether a call is actually from one of them and automatically hangs up if not. Android will use several methods to verify such calls if you have an app from an eligible institution installed and you're signed into it. Google's initial partners for this feature are Revolut, Itaú and Nubank, with more to follow. It will be available on devices running at least Android 11. The company is also expanding its live threat detection tools, including with warnings about potentially harmful actions. For instance, on Android 17, a feature called dynamic signal monitoring will be on the lookout for apps that engage in suspicious activity "like changing or hiding their icon and then launching from the background or abusing accessibility permissions," Google said. Those who sideload apps by downloading them on Chrome on Android should be better protected if they have Safe Browsing turned on. Google will scan the file for known malware and stop you before downloading the app if it detects any. On the device level, Google is reducing the number of times someone can incorrectly enter a password or PIN on an Android 17 phone or tablet and adding a longer wait between attempts after failures. By default, the device's IMEI will be accessible through the lock screen on devices running Android 12 and above (though you can switch this off if you prefer). Manufacturers, network operators and police can use this number to verify that you're the owner of a device and hopefully return it. You'll have more granular control over how apps use your location in Android 17. It'll be possible to only enable your precise location for certain tasks when the app is open to minimize its knowledge of where you are and what you're doing. Google is also finally giving developers a way to ask for a specific contact to help you find a certain friend in their apps, rather than you having to fork over your entire contact list.

Google races to put Gemini at the center of Android before Apple's AI reboot

An Android character is displayed in front of a building on the Google headquarters campus on July 23, 2025 in Mountain View, California. Google is using its latest Android rollout to make Gemini less of a chatbot and more of an operating layer across the phone, browser, car and laptop, just weeks before Apple is expected to show its own Gemini-powered Apple Intelligence reboot at WWDC. Ahead of its Google I/O developer conference next week, the company previewed a number of Android updates, including AI-powered app automation, a smarter version of Chrome on Android, new tools for creators, a redesigned Android Auto experience, and a sweeping set of new security features. Alphabet is counting on Gemini to help Google compete directly with OpenAI and Anthropic in the market for artificial intelligence models and services, while also serving as the AI backbone across its expansive portfolio of products, including Android. Meanwhile, Gemini is powering part of Apple's new AI strategy, giving Google a role in the iPhone maker's reset even as it races to prove its own version of personal AI on the phone is further along. Sameer Samat, who oversees Google's Android ecosystem, told CNBC that Google is rebuilding parts of Android around Gemini Intelligence to help users complete everyday tasks more easily. "We're transitioning from an operating system to an intelligence system," he said.

Google "Gemini Intelligence" shows off agentic Android 17 features that Apple has yet to deliver with Siri

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. In brief: A large portion of Google's recent Android Show event focused on the next major update for the company's generative AI assistant. Later this year, the newest Android devices will begin supporting Gemini Intelligence, which automates numerous tasks, builds custom widgets, and enhances voice dictation. The AI suite will likely compete with Apple's forthcoming updates to Siri. The latest Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones will begin receiving new automation features from Gemini this summer. The updates will come to other devices, such as smartwatches, vehicles, glasses, and laptops, later this year. Called Gemini Intelligence, the set of features aims to automate complex sequences of tasks such as completing orders, filling out forms, building shopping lists, and making travel plans. For example, Google tested popular food delivery apps so Gemini can automatically build a grocery list from items in the notes app. The company also claims that the assistant can plan a tour for a specified number of travelers on Expedia by simply analyzing a brochure photo. Additionally, Chrome auto browse is coming to Android devices in June. Similar to how Gemini Intelligence navigates through apps, Chrome auto browse can fill orders or book travel reservations on websites in the background while users focus on other tasks. Another feature, called Personal Intelligence, pulls personal information from multiple apps to auto-fill complex forms, such as DMV forms or passport information for international flights. Google stresses that the functionality is opt-in, in case users are hesitant to hand their personal details to an AI assistant. Gemini Intelligence will also try to clean up users' dictation. Instead of transcribing every utterance, the new feature, Rambler, omits "ums," repetition, and sentences in which users correct themselves, aiming to convert speech into precise text. It also supports multiple languages, such as English and Hindi, in the same message. The feature records only in real time and does not save audio. Meanwhile, a future update will allow users to build custom widgets by describing them to Gemini. Users can create widgets for tasks such as building recipes on their phone's home screen or tracking wind speed and rain on a smartwatch face. With Google Intelligence, Google is demonstrating some of the functionality that Apple previously announced for Siri but has struggled to bring to market. Apple's assistant was supposed to begin handling complex queries with iOS 26.4, but the update proved unreliable in testing and will likely not arrive until iOS 27 this fall. Time will tell whether Google nailed it with Gemini Intelligence or if Apple was right to delay Siri's upgrade.

If Gemini can do everything for me, what's the point of Android?

We didn't see it coming (honestly, neither did Apple), but Google just showcased what could perhaps be the biggest moment for AI: Gemini Intelligence. It brings to reality Gemini's agentic mode that we have all been dreaming of: where AI can execute multi-step tasks on your behalf as you watch your phone screen do things on its own, as if it were a moving newspaper from a Harry Potter movie. Gemini Intelligence does appear futuristic, and honestly, it is tempting enough that I'd want to try it out. But once you step back away from its dazzle, you realize that it fundamentally changes how we interact with our smartphones. If Gemini can search, plan, compare, reply, and execute tasks on my behalf, where exactly do I come into the process? Do I actively participate, or just hover over its actions to supervise it? Do I only approve what AI has already done, or let it mess up and come to me later to fix things?

Google is Unleashing Gemini on Android Users

Google has given us a new naming convention to navigateâ€"along with giving Android users some new features. On Tuesday, in the lead-up to the company's Google I/O developer conference, it announced Gemini Intelligence, a suite of AI-powered features that will reportedly integrate more deeply into the mobile operating system. Per Google, Gemini Intelligence will bring "the best of Gemini to our most advanced devices" and will work across "premium hardware and innovative software to help you stay a step ahead by working proactively to get things done throughout your day." Sounds great. Some of the features that Google highlighted include the ability to automate tasks through what sounds like agentic functionality that can work across multiple apps. For instance, the company said Gemini Intelligence is good for things like "snagging a front-row bike for your spin class or finding your class syllabus in Gmail, then putting the books you need in your cart." It can also take an image of a grocery list and fill a shopping cart on Instacart with those items. One of the more interesting tools in the Gemini Intelligence suite is Rambler, a tool for converting speech to text that takes into account natural speaking habits like filler words and repetition. Here's how Google describes it: "With Rambler, you don't have to worry about getting your words exactly right before you start. You can speak naturally and it will take the important parts, then fit them all together into a concise message. Rambler will clearly show you when you’ve enabled it to help convert your voice to text and audio is only used to transcribe in real-time and is not stored or saved." The company says the feature can also switch between different languages within the same message. Google is also expanding the capabilities of autofill with Gemini Intelligence, allowing the AI tool to fill in forms and text fields on your behalf by tapping into Personal Intelligence, Google's creepy opt-in feature that gives Gemini access to things like your YouTube history and Google search records. Google assured users that Autofill is also "strictly opt-in," so you don't have to be weirded out by the information Gemini seems to know about you. Gemini will also get its hooks deeper into Chrome for Android. The company said the AI assistant will be available in the mobile browser to summarize and compare content across the web, similar to the desktop version. It'll also get access to "auto browse," a feature that can automate tasks that can be completed in a browser, like booking an appointment. Google said to expect those features to show up in June. Google says Gemini Intelligence will come to Android devices in waves, starting with the latest Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones. They'll get the first crack at the new AI features this summer. Gemini Intelligence will reportedly make its way to Android devices, including smartwatches, cars, smart glasses, and laptops, over the course of this year.

Google is quietly turning Gemini into a productivity OS, and it's awesome

When he is not busy with technical analysis and software evaluation, Parth dedicates his time to watching K-dramas, studying mobile technology trends and the role of artificial intelligence. Gemini is no longer a mere chatbot on Android. By moving Gemini from a simple overlay to a central productivity engine, Google is effectively turning the Android interface into an operating layer. Instead of jumping between Gmail for context, Calendar for availability, Keep for tasks, and YouTube Music for playlists, I now find myself staying within a single conversational thread. Here is how the Gemini interface has become the primary command line for my day. Related 5 simple ways to supercharge your Android with Google Gemini The Google Assistant killer? Posts 10 By Adnan Ahmed Gemini Personal Intelligence is a game-changer Close The real magic of Gemini as a productivity OS isn't just that it's smart; it's that it finally has a memory. It has evolved from a tool I talk to into a tool that works for me. Now, I no longer have to repeat myself. Gemini remembers my past chats, which means it understands my context, projects, and even my preferred way of working. It's like having a chief of staff who has been in every meeting with me. If I refer to 'the project we discussed last week,' it doesn't blink - it just pulls the relevant data and continues the thread. This continuity is what makes it feel like an OS rather than a temporary session. By enabling extensions, I have plugged my entire digital life into one interface. I have connected Gmail, Calendar, Tasks, Keep, YouTube Music, and WhatsApp. After everything is connected, I'm no longer the person who has to manually move data from an email into a note, or from a note into a task. Gemini acts as the intelligent layer sitting on top of everything. It knows exactly where my information lives and how to move it. Let's see how I use these Gemini extensions to get the best out of it. The death of the app switcher Close The real power shift happened when I stopped opening these apps as separate destinations and started treating them as background services for Gemini. On Android, the Gemini interface has become my primary dashboard. Because it has access to my Gmail and Keep, I can ask high-level questions like, 'What were the specific specs for the diamond bracelet we discussed with Swami Jewels in that email last Tuesday?' or 'Find my notes on the Nextcloud Docker configuration.' Gemini doesn't just show me a list of files; it reads them, prepares the answer, and presents the text right there in the chat. I can even tell Gemini to 'Set a reminder for this Friday at 10 AM to review the Pixel 11 Pro,' and it does the job in Google Tasks in no time. As a tech writer, my Google Keep is full of fragmented ideas and labels like #Docker or #Android17. I can ask Gemini to 'Summarize all my Keep notes labeled #Research into a three-paragraph outline,' and receive an answer instantly. My favorite integration is with YouTube Music. Here is where Gemini truly surprised me. I can tell Gemini 'Play some 80s Euro-Disco music' and it creates the playlist and starts songs instantly. I can even create a playlist based on a specific prompt and save it directly to my YouTube Music account with a single click. Read my separate post to learn more about this integration. Gemini can also send a WhatsApp message or initiate a call right from a single prompt. I would love to see integration with other third-party apps like OneDrive, Canva, Adobe, and more in the future. Related I thought Google Docs was enough until I paired it with Gemini The secret weapon for flawless documents Posts 4 By Parth Shah Agentic workflows and automation Close One of the most underrated features that truly cements Gemini's status as a 'Productivity OS' is Scheduled Actions. On my Pixel, this isn't just about setting simple reminders; it's about offloading complex tasks to Gemini. For example, I have Gemini scheduled to give me a comprehensive 'Morning Brief' every weekday at 8 AM. It pulls up my upcoming meetings from Google Calendar, summarizes my urgent to-dos from Google Tasks, and even gives me a quick weather update. Subscribe for deeper Gemini-on-Android coverage and tips Curious to master Gemini as your Android productivity OS? Subscribe to the newsletter for deep coverage: step-by-step integration guides, practical prompts, extension workflows, and analysis that helps you apply Gemini across your apps. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. It's like having a chief of staff hand me a briefing folder before I even start my day. I have set up another Scheduled Action where Gemini gives me all the relevant information about my favorite IPL team at the end of the weekend. The possibilities are truly endless here. You need to get creative with the prompts and set the duration, and you are good to go. Gemini is managing a system that's designed to keep me ahead of the curve. Beyond the chatbot By centralizing our most essential tools within a single interface, Google isn't just adding a feature; it's changing the very nature of mobile productivity. Gemini isn't just an advanced chatbot for asking questions; it actually manages the heavy lifting of our digital lives. Still, support for third-party apps is limited in Gemini for now. I can't wait to see where Google takes this next. As these integrations deepen and the AI-first OS becomes more refined, the gap between having an idea and completing it will only continue to shrink.

Android 17 isn't an operating system anymore -- it's a digital assistant that controls your phone

Joe Fedewa has been writing about technology for over a decade. Android and the rest of the Google ecosystem have been a focus for years, as well as reviewing devices, hosting podcasts, filming videos, and writing tutorials. Joe loves all things technology and is also an avid DIYer and food blogger. He has written thousands of articles, hundreds of tutorials, and dozens of reviews. Before joining How-To Geek, Joe worked at XDA-Developers as Managing Editor and covered news from the Google ecosystem. He got his start in the industry covering Windows Phone on a small blog, and later moved to Phandroid where he covered Android news, reviewed devices, wrote tutorials, created YouTube videos, and hosted a podcast. From smartphones to Bluetooth earbuds to Z-Wave switches, Joe is interested in all kinds of technology. After several years of jailbreaking and heavily modifying an iPod Touch, he moved on to his first smartphone, the HTC DROID Eris. He's been hooked ever since. The folks at Google said they no longer think of Android as an "operating system." Instead, they see it as an "intelligence system." That tells you everything you need to know about Google's vision for Android 17 and beyond. Get ready to let your phone do a lot more for you -- if you trust it. Say "Hello" to Gemini Intelligence Apps are taking a back seat The biggest change to Android we've seen in many years is poised to be a new feature called "Gemini Intelligence." Google describes it as a way to "help you stay a step ahead by working proactively to get things done throughout your day." We've seen bits and pieces of Gemini Intelligence sprinkled throughout Android, but the full-fledged experience is coming this summer. The idea is to have Gemini automate tedious tasks and take more control over your device. For example, Gemini can already tap and scroll quietly in the background to order food and rides on your behalf. That's the same concept that will be taken to even more areas of Android. Gemini will be able to go in and out of apps to make reservations, find documents in your inbox, add items to your shopping cart, and much more. It's a level of "digital assistant" that we've never seen before. Far more than just setting reminders and looking up info, your phone will truly be able to do real stuff on your behalf. One new experience that Gemini will be able to help with is filling out forms. If you enable Personal Intelligence in Gemini and connect it to Android's Autofill service, you can have complex forms automatically filled out with one tap. Gemini Intelligence will also be able to build completely custom widgets for you. Simply tell Gemini what you want to see in the widget with natural language, and it will be created. It could be a countdown to something in your calendar, weather from multiple cities, daily updated recipe suggestions, ticket price updates, and so much more. Of course, deep integration like this comes with privacy concerns. Google reiterates that your data is kept private and you have controls to limit what Gemini can access. Gemini starts with your command and ends when the task is complete. You always have the final confirmation. Related Stop using Gemini like Google Assistant -- here's what you're missing The mistake some people make is thinking about Gemini exactly like they thought about Google Assistant. However, you're probably missing out on one of Gemini's best features if you're using it that way. It's called "Connected Apps," and it may change how you use your Android phone. Posts 7 By Joe Fedewa There's new non-Gemini stuff, too Android is getting better iPhone interoperability and Digital Wellbeing tools Gemini Intelligence is taking center stage, but there's more coming to Android than just AI. Currently, "App Timers" can provide helpful messages when you've used an app for an extended period of time and lock you out. However, it's still easy to ignore. "Pause Point" is a new approach. Pause Point gives you a 10-second beat before an app opens to help you think about whether you really want to use the app. It can be a short breathing exercise, some favorite photos to swipe through, or alternate app suggestions. You also have the option right then and there to set a timer for that specific session. Google is trying to make it easier to communicate between iPhone and Android devices, too. Quick Share is now compatible with Apple's AirDrop on Pixel devices, and it will expand to Samsung, OPPO, OnePlus, Vivo, Xiaomi, and HONOR devices later this year. In addition, the iOS-to-Android transfer process is being beefed up to include passwords, photos, messages, apps, contacts, eSIMs, and even home screen layouts. Google and Apple worked together to make this possible, and it will launch later this year on Samsung Galaxy and Pixel devices first. For better or worse It's clear that Google sees Android 17 and beyond as being more hands-off, as Gemini is able to take more control. Depending on your point of view, that may be an incredibly exciting prospect or a very scary one. The "future" is never as simple as we think it will be. Subscribe for deeper Android 17 & Gemini insights Get the newsletter for clear, practical coverage of Android 17 and Gemini Intelligence -- privacy trade-offs, setup tips, hands-on analysis, and what these changes mean across Android devices. Subscribe for ongoing, expert-led coverage and context. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. On the surface, it sounds like the natural progression of smartphones. An evolution from individual experiences siloed away in a dozen different apps to simply telling your phone to do something for you. However, the reality is that people need to trust AI to buy into this future. I would like to believe Gemini can handle tasks for me, but when it struggles to even give me an accurate weather report, I have my doubts. There's more in Android 17 that I didn't mention here. Check out Google's full blog posts (1, 2) to see all the details. Related Don't Trust AI Search Engines-Study Finds They're "Confidently Wrong" Up to 76% of the Time We've all heard the warnings: "Don't trust everything AI says!" But how inaccurate are AI search engines really? The folks at the Tow Center for Digital Journalism put eight popular AI search engines through comprehensive tests, and the results are staggering. Posts 5 By Joe Fedewa

Gemini Intelligence brings app automation to Android - Engadget

If Google has its way, soon your phone, and many other Android-based devices, won't need much input from you at all. During the Android Show: I/O Edition, the company announced Gemini Intelligence, a system designed to automate tedious tasks. In short, Google has created a computer use agent (think: Claude Cowork or Perplexity Personal Computer) for phones. The company says it spent five months fine-tuning its latest agent to make it capable of seamlessly navigating and completing multi-step tasks across some of the most popular phone apps in use today. As you might imagine, Google claims the system is capable of some significant feats of automation. For instance, the company says the agent can read a class syllabus in Gmail and then put all the books you might need for that course in a shopping cart. Google adds the system is even more powerful when it can pull context from your phone's screen or an image. The company paints a scenario where users might see a travel brochure in a hotel and ask Gemini to find a similar tour on Expedia. Understandably, some people might be reluctant to give an AI agent control over their phone. Google says Gemini Intelligence won't begin working on a task until instructed to do so by a user. Moreover, any task that involves Gemini buying something on your behalf will require you to confirm the purchase. Users can also decide when Gemini can access their data using Google's familiar permissions menu, and a progress bar allows users to stop Gemini at any time. Google plans to first bring Gemini Intelligence to recently-released Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones. It will be interesting to see how much usage people get out of the system. It's not like most apps are hard to use; if anything, over two decades of mobile design, the majority have been streamlined to the point most of us can complete tasks like calling an Uber without much thought. It will also be notable if Gemini Intelligence can avoid the mistakes that other computer use agents like Claude Cowork are prone to making. After all, if you can't count on the software you're using to be consistent, most people are unlikely to use it more than once.

Gemini Intelligence brings gen UI widgets, Gboard 'Rambler' to Android, debuting on Pixel & Samsung

Google today announced "Gemini Intelligence" as the overarching name for a new series of AI features on premium Android devices. Gemini Intelligence starts with a design language that builds upon Material 3 Expressive. It's meant to subtly indicate when Gemini is listening, thinking, and working across these new features. This visual system is not only beautiful but also functional, animating with purpose to reduce distractions and allow you to focus on the task at hand. Gemini task automation rolled out in March to the Galaxy S26 and Pixel 10. Devices with Gemini Intelligence can take action in more apps, while Google says "automation is even more powerful when you add screen or image context." Google is introducing a more intelligent autofill in Android apps and Chrome that leverages Gemini's Personal Intelligence. Supporting more forms and fields, it will appear in Gboard's suggestion strip and be badged by a spark. Connecting Gemini to Autofill with Google requires an explicit opt-in. Gboard voice input is being upgraded with what Google calls "Rambler." Gemini is leveraged to account for self-corrections, repetition, pauses, and filler words. It goes beyond word-for-word dictation and lets you transcribe naturally. It can distill the important parts of the message, like when you change your mind. For example, you're dictating a shopping list with apples, bananas, and oranges, but then no longer want the first item. Just tell Gboard that you "no longer want apples," and the final list will exclude it. Responses can be edited and polished in real time using Rambler, while Gemini's multilingual support allows you to change languages in a single message. You'll see the Gemini Intelligence design language leveraged here with a waveform that occupies the entire width of your keyboard. The final aspect of Gemini Intelligence is generative user interfaces, starting with widgets on both phones and Wear OS (Tiles). "Create My Widget" lets you describe what you want to be kept up-to-date about: From the Widgets picker, tap the new "Create" button to get a guided experience or enter a prompt directly. Categories include: The first wave of Gemini Intelligence features is rolling out to the "latest" Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices this summer. Later this year, Gemini Intelligence will be available on watches, cars, glasses, and laptops. You can expect more features soon after.

Google just revealed 'Gemini Intelligence' -- and it could change Android forever

Gemini is now the intelligence layer powering Android itself For the past two years, Google has mostly been framed around Gemini as a chatbot. From Gemini Live to Nano Banana, Gemini has proved to be a useful tool for users, even reaching the number one spot in Google play and app store. But Google's latest Android push, announced today at The Android Show: I/O Edition, suggests the company has bigger ambitions for Gemini. With the introduction of Gemini Intelligence, Google appears to be positioning its AI as more than an app you open -- it's becoming the intelligence layer running underneath Android itself. This move underscores Google is rethinking Android as an AI-first operating system, which could be be one of the biggest shifts in Android's history. What is 'Gemini Intelligence'? Google has already made Gemini a central part of its product strategy, from Search and Gmail to Chrome and Android devices. But "Gemini Intelligence" changes the framing. Rather than a stand alone app, Google appears to be placing it inside the operating system itself -- connecting apps, understanding context and taking action across devices. This move represents a much bigger change in how Android works. Now, rather than jumping between apps, menus and search bars, Google wants Gemini to understand what you are trying to do and move through the workflow for you. And that's where the phrase "Gemini Intelligence" starts to make sense. Gemini in Chrome could be the real power move One of the most important pieces of this shift is Gemini in Chrome for Android. Google is bringing Gemini deeper into the browser, where it can summarize articles, answer questions about web pages and help with tasks such as booking travel. With Gemini as a foundational layer inside Chrome, instead of simply searching, clicking and reading, users can ask Gemini to interpret what is on the page, extract what matters and potentially take action. That fits perfectly with the larger Gemini Intelligence strategy. Google is not trying to make users leave Android to use AI. It is trying to make AI show up wherever users already are. Googlebook shows how far this could go The new Googlebook category may be the clearest hardware expression of this idea. According to Google, Googlebook is a new Android-powered laptop platform "designed for Gemini Intelligence," with partners including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo. The same report describes features including a "Glowbar" and "Magic Pointer," a cursor designed to surface contextual Gemini suggestions. A Gemini-first laptop would suggest Google is not limiting this strategy to phones. It wants Android, Chrome and Gemini to converge into a broader computing platform. That could put Google in a very different position against Apple, Microsoft and OpenAI. Google's advantage is that it already controls Android, Chrome, Gmail, Maps, YouTube, Search and a growing Gemini ecosystem. If Gemini Intelligence becomes the layer connecting all of that, Android could become much more than a phone OS. The takeaway The biggest thing to understand about Gemini Intelligence is that it moves AI from a destination to infrastructure, which users will immediately notice. But the big questions beyond usability remain. How much access should Gemini have? How transparent will these agentic actions be? Will users trust AI to move across Gmail, Chrome, shopping apps and banking tools? And will this actually save time, or just create new kinds of friction? Those questions will only get more important as Gemini Intelligence becomes more capable. For now, it's clear that Google is no longer just trying to make Gemini a better chatbot. It is trying to make Gemini the intelligence layer for Android. And if it succeeds, Android will start feeling like one that understands what you need before you finish asking. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Subscribe to Tom's Guide on YouTube and follow us on TikTok.

Google just revealed Gemini Intelligence for Android -- here are 7 ways it wants your phone to do all the work for you, so you don't have to

* Gemini Intelligence adds AI-powered automation directly into Android and Chrome * New features include smarter Autofill, voice cleanup, and custom AI widgets * Google wants Android to handle more tedious digital tasks for you Google has just unveiled Gemini Intelligence for Android at the Android Show. It's a new AI system designed to automate more of the boring, repetitive parts of using your phone, meaning you get to just ask it to do things while watching it work. Google's pitch for Gemini Intelligence is aimed at reducing friction when using your phone, which is probably the most sensible use for AI on a mobile. Gemini Intelligence combines Gemini AI with Android itself to help handle multi-step tasks across apps, summarize websites, fill in forms, build shopping carts from photos, and even create custom widgets using natural language. Many of the features still require a prompt or command from you to start them off, but the goal is clearly to make Android feel more proactive and less manually demanding. It's also one of the clearest signs yet that Google sees AI as a system woven directly into the everyday experience of using your phone. From smarter autofill to AI-powered browsing tools, here are the seven biggest Gemini Intelligence features that stood out from today's announcement. 1. Gemini can now handle multi-step tasks across your apps The headline feature of Gemini Intelligence is Android's new ability to automate multi-step tasks across multiple apps without you having to manually jump between them yourself. Google says Gemini will be able to do things like find your class syllabus in Gmail, identify the books you need, and add them to your shopping cart, or book a front-row bike for your next spin class. Google is emphasizing that you remain in control throughout the process, with Gemini stopping once the task is complete and waiting for final confirmation before taking action. 2. Gemini can turn what's on your screen into actions Google also wants Gemini to understand the context of what you're looking at on screen and turn it into something useful. Instead of constantly switching between apps and copying information around manually, Gemini Intelligence can use screenshots, photos, or on-screen content as the starting point for actions. One example Google gave was long-pressing the power button while viewing a grocery list in your Notes app, then asking Gemini to build a delivery shopping cart from it automatically. Another involved taking a photo of a travel brochure and asking Gemini to find a similar tour online for a group of six. 3. Gemini in Chrome Google is also bringing Gemini deeper into the Chrome browsing experience on Android. Starting later this year, Gemini in Chrome will be able to help summarize web pages, compare information across sites, and assist with online research directly inside the browser. But the more interesting part is something Google calls 'Chrome auto browse.' With this, Gemini will be able to handle routine online tasks on your behalf, including things like booking appointments or reserving parking spaces, as shown in the example above. 4. Smarter Autofill Your phone can already autofill web forms, but thanks to Gemini Intelligence, it can now be even smarter when doing so. With Gemini Intelligence enabled, Android will be able to pull relevant information from connected apps and use it to complete more complicated forms automatically. 5. Rambler voice-to-text This is a great feature that will suit people who like to ramble on a bit when composing a text using dictation. Rambler is designed to make voice-to-text on Android sound more natural and polished. It is built to understand the way people actually speak, including pauses, repetitions, corrections, and filler words like "um" or "like." It will essentially use AI to remove all the fluff and just keep the text message to the essentials, while still retaining your style. You can also add information or emojis to text messages after it's typed something out. Google also says Rambler supports multilingual conversations, allowing you to switch between languages within the same message without confusing the system. 6. Create My Widget One of the more interesting additions is a feature called 'Create My Widget', which lets you generate custom Android widgets (mini apps) simply by describing what you want in natural language. It looks like vibe coding -- simply ask Gemini Intelligence what you want the widget to do, and it will generate it for you. In the example above, we've asked Gemini to generate a simple countdown timer, but the sky's the limit when it comes to what you can ask for. Now you don't have to wait for developers to make the widgets you want; you can just create them without any coding skills at all. 7. AI-driven Material 3 Expressive UI changes Finally, Gemini Intelligence comes with updates to Android's overall design language, building on Google's Material 3 Expressive interface system. According to Google, the goal is to make the operating system feel calmer, more focused, and less distracting while Gemini handles more tasks in the background. Whether these features end up feeling genuinely useful or slightly over-engineered will probably depend on how reliably Gemini actually works in day-to-day life. AI assistants have promised to simplify our digital lives for years, but the reality has often involved awkward voice commands, limited app support, and systems that break the moment things become even slightly complicated. If Google can make that experience feel seamless and avoid making it feel intrusive, then Gemini Intelligence could end up being one of the best changes in how Android phones work in years. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.

6 things Gemini Intelligence is about to do across your Android devices

Google is bringing Gemini Intelligence to Android, which brings the best of Gemini to its most intelligent devices. The company really wants you to get your work done by Gemini throughout the day, all while staying in control and keeping your data private. Google is rolling out these features starting with the Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices this summer. Furthermore, we'll see these features on other Android devices, including watches, cars, glasses, and laptops, later this year. Your assistant is about to get a lot more hands-on, without you having to ask twice Google is clearly pushing Gemini beyond being just an assistant that answers questions. With what it calls Gemini Intelligence, the idea is to take over the kind of small, repetitive tasks that usually eat up your time. On devices like the Galaxy S26 and Pixel 10, Google has already been fine-tuning this across food delivery and ride-hailing apps, and the goal is to let the phone handle the boring steps while you stay focused on what you actually want to do. What makes this interesting is how far it goes into real-life situations. Instead of bouncing between apps, Gemini can piece things together on its own. It could find your class syllabus in Gmail and automatically add the required books to your cart, or help you grab a bike for a spin class without you having to tap through multiple screens. It even understands visual context, so a grocery list or a travel brochure becomes something actionable. You can point it at a note or a photo, and it will try to turn that into a task, like building a shopping cart or finding a similar travel deal online. You stay in control the whole time, but the heavy lifting shifts to the background, which is really where this starts to feel less like an assistant and more like a quiet operator working for you. Chrome is about to do more than just open tabs for you Starting in late June, Android users will see Chrome evolve into something far more capable than a regular browser. With Gemini built directly into Chrome, it will no longer just be about opening tabs and scrolling endlessly. Instead, it can actually help you make sense of what you are reading, pull out key points, and even compare information across different pages without you doing all the manual work. What really stands out, though, is how far Google is willing to push this idea of a browser that acts on your behalf. With auto-browse, Chrome can take over some of the more tedious parts of everyday life online, like booking appointments or even sorting out parking reservations. It is one of those upgrades that sounds almost too convenient at first, but if it works as intended, it could genuinely change how much effort we spend just getting simple things done on the web. Your phone is about to get way better at filling in the blanks Autofill on Android is finally starting to feel like it is growing up. What used to be a simple shortcut for names, emails, and passwords is now being upgraded into something much smarter with Gemini behind it. Instead of just remembering a few saved fields, your device can now understand context and pull in relevant information across apps, including Chrome, to help complete those annoying bits of text you keep typing over and over again. The bigger win here is how it tackles something everyone hates: filling out long, messy forms on a phone screen. Whether it is address details, booking information, or repetitive sign-ups, Android can now lean on your connected apps to fill in the gaps for you. That said, Google is not forcing anything here. The Gemini-powered Autofill experience is fully opt-in, so you decide when it steps in, and you can switch it off anytime. It is a sensible approach, especially for something as deeply tied to personal data, but if it works as promised, it could make mobile form-filling feel much less painful than it does today. From "ums" and "ahs" to surprisingly polished messages Voice typing on Android has always been one of those features that is impressively useful in theory, but slightly messy in practice. Gboard already does a solid job of turning speech into text, but real human speech is rarely clean. We pause, repeat ourselves, throw in filler words, and change direction mid-sentence. Rambler, a new Gemini-powered feature, is Google's attempt to fix exactly that gap between how we speak and how we actually want our messages to look. Instead of forcing you to "speak perfectly," Rambler takes a more forgiving approach. You can talk naturally, and it will intelligently pick out the meaningful parts, stitch them together, and turn them into a clean, readable message. It even handles multilingual conversations comfortably, which feels very real-world. Switching between English, Hindi, or a mix of both mid-sentence is no longer a problem, since it understands context and tone rather than just words. Google also says audio is processed in real time for transcription and is not stored, which should help ease privacy concerns. If it works as intended, this feels like having a very patient editor sitting inside your keyboard. Your widgets are getting a very smart upgrade Android widgets have always been one of those features people either love or forget about entirely, but Google is clearly trying to change that with Gemini Intelligence. With a new feature called Create My Widget, widgets are no longer just static blocks of information. Instead, they become something you actively shape using simple natural language, which honestly feels like the most Android thing Google could do with AI. You can simply describe what you want, and Gemini builds a widget tailored to that need. It could be as specific as weekly high-protein meal suggestions for your fitness routine, or as stripped down as a weather view that shows only wind speed and rain for your cycling habits. The end result is a home screen that feels less like a default layout and more like something designed around your actual life. And because this extends to Wear OS as well, it is not just about your phone anymore, but about having the right information on your wrist at the right time. A smarter Android wrapped in a more thoughtful design Google is also giving Gemini Intelligence a visual identity that feels more intentional than anything we have seen before on Android. Built on top of Material 3 Expressive, the new design language is not just about making things look polished. It is about making the interface feel alive in a controlled way, with animations that guide your attention rather than fight for it. It aims to calm the chaos modern smartphones tend to create. What ties all of this together is the bigger shift in how Android is being positioned. Gemini Intelligence is not just about adding AI features to existing tools. It is quietly reshaping how those tools look, behave, and respond to you. From handling repetitive tasks in the background to building interfaces that adapt to your needs, Google is clearly pushing toward a future where your device feels less like something you operate and more like something that works with you. And if it all comes together as intended, this could be one of those rare Android upgrades that actually changes daily use in a noticeable way.

Android Is About to Get a Lot Smarter With Google AI Boosts -- Here's How - Decrypt

Gemini Intelligence launches first on Samsung Galaxy S26 and Google Pixel 10 devices this summer. Google wants Android phones to act less like collections of separate apps and more like AI agents that handle tasks in the background. Google on Tuesday introduced "Gemini Intelligence," a new AI feature for Android that the company says will automate tasks across apps, personalize device interfaces, and help users complete everyday actions with less manual input. According to Google, the rollout will begin this summer on Samsung Galaxy S26 and Google Pixel 10 phones before expanding later this year to watches, cars, glasses, and laptops tied to the Android ecosystem. "Soon, devices with Gemini Intelligence will do all that and more," Google said in a statement. "Gemini will navigate tasks for you -- whether it's snagging a front-row bike for your spin class or finding your class syllabus in Gmail then putting the books you need in your cart. Gemini handles the logistics while you stay in the moment." One of the biggest changes, Google said, involves multi-step app automation. Instead of switching between apps manually, users will be able to ask Gemini to complete actions across services. "Instead of manually switching between apps and copying data, Gemini can turn visual context into instant action," the tech giant said. "Imagine you have a long grocery list on your notes app. Just long press the power button over the list and ask Gemini to build a shopping cart with all of the items for delivery." Gemini Intelligence also introduces a redesigned Android interface based on Material 3 Expressive, which the company says reduces distractions and helps users stay focused. Despite giving AI under-the-hood capabilities, Google said users remain in control because Gemini only acts after receiving commands and stops once a task is complete. Final confirmations still require user approval. Gemini Intelligence will also bring AI-powered browsing to Chrome, expand autofill using information from connected apps, introduce a multilingual voice-cleanup feature called Rambler, and let users create custom Android widgets using natural language prompts. "With Rambler, you don't have to worry about getting your words exactly right before you start," Google said. "You can speak naturally, and it will take the important parts, then fit them all together into a concise message." In addition to changes to Android devices, Google also unveiled the Googlebook, the first laptop designed for Gemini Intelligence. "Over 15 years ago, we introduced the Chromebook, a laptop built for a cloud-first world," Google wrote. "Now, as we are moving from an operating system to an intelligence system, we see an opportunity to rethink laptops again." However, Google did not say if the Googlebook would officially replace the Chromebook or when. Google's rollout also arrives as rival smartphone makers struggle to deliver on ambitious AI promises. Earlier this month, Apple agreed to a $250 million settlement over claims it misled consumers about "Apple Intelligence" features that were delayed or never arrived on new iPhones, including an upgraded Siri experience. Apple later said it would use Google's Gemini to help power some AI products, including Siri. Google's years of investment in Gemini models, Android integrations, and AI infrastructure put the company in a stronger position to bring AI agent functionality directly into consumer devices.

Android's Agentic Future: Building Gemini Intelligence on a Foundation of Security & Privacy

Android is evolving from an operating system into an intelligence system. With Gemini Intelligence, your device can help you get things done by deeply understanding your context, anticipating your needs, and completing tasks on your behalf. Because great AI experiences require uncompromising privacy, we've grounded Gemini Intelligence on Android in three core principles. These principles apply across Gemini Intelligence features and form factors, from user-initiated tasks like asking Gemini to automate apps, autofill forms with Gemini Personal Intelligence, to AI operating in the background on your behalf, such as Magic Cue. With AI powered features, users have granular authority to opt-in and out of entire features or disable specific components at any time. By putting the choice in your hands, we ensure that AI assistance feels like a helpful partner rather than an intrusive presence.

Google Just Announced 'Gemini Intelligence' at The Android Show: I/O Edition

Gemini Intelligence can generate custom widgets based on your prompts, which lets you create personal widgets for your home screen. Google's AI has gone through a couple of stages thus far. First, Google launched "Bard" as a direct competitor to ChatGPT. Soon after, the company rebranded to "Gemini," encompassing everything from its chatbot to its LLMs. During The Android Show: I/O Edition, Google revealed its newest AI iteration: Gemini Intelligence. It might sound suspiciously similar to another company's AI suite, but Gemini Intelligence offers a number of unique features -- at least, according to Google. Google is positioning "Gemini Intelligence" as an agentic assistant. While the company already offers agentic capabilities, like ordering cabs through Uber or takeout through DoorDash, the new experience should have more abilities. For example, Google says Gemini can book you a front-row bike in your spin class, or order the books you need for a class after finding the syllabus in your Gmail inbox. Google is also touting Gemini's image context for automation. In one example, you could pull up your grocery list in your notes app of choice, then ask Gemini to add the items to your shopping cart. In another situation, you could take a photo of a travel brochure you find in your hotel's lobby and ask Gemini to find you a tour for your group that matches the experience in the literature. Autofill is one of those features I definitely take for granted. It's not always perfect (please don't enter my phone number in the credit card form), but when it works, it saves you a ton of time filling out digital paperwork. According to Google, Gemini Intelligence is upping the ante with autofill, with the goal of filling in just about any information in any form. The big example here concerns traveling: Imagine you're buying a plane ticket, and you need to fill out your identifying information. While traditional autofill can help with your name, phone number, email, and so on, you usually need to find your passport (or a picture of your passport) to fill out that section. Google says Gemini Intelligence can tap into Personal Intelligence to autofill secure details like your passport information. You'll see a button appear marked "Passport," which, when tapped, enters in all of those details. Google says the feature is "strictly opt-in," so you have the choice whether or not to connect to Gemini Intelligence in these instances. You also have the option to disable it at any time. Gemini Intelligence is also aiming to improve dictation, specifically by polishing up our often unpolished thoughts. To do so, Google is introducing a new feature called "Rambler": When you dictate to Gemini Intelligence, instead of writing down all of your "ums" and "uhs," Rambler tries to jot down only what you intend to say. That includes when telling the AI you made a mistake. If you say something like "On my grocery list, I need three bananas, one orange juice, a gallon of milk, (oh wait, never mind, I have milk) and a loaf of bread," Rambler should only write down "On my grocery list, I need three bananas, one orange juice, and a loaf of bread." You can also ask Rambler to adjust the formatting of the dictation, so you can turn that string of grocery items into a bulleted list with emojis. According to Google, there's a visual difference between Rambler and standard dictation, so you should always know when the feature is on. The company says the audio is only used to transcribe it in real time, and isn't stored after the fact. Google also says Rambler supports multiple languages, so you can use dictation while switching languages without having to start and stop dictation. This is the feature that piqued my interest the most: Gemini Intelligence will, supposedly, offer users the chance to build their own widgets for the home screen. Rather than wait on app developers to make widgets that may or may not do what you what them to, you can ask Gemini Intelligence to build those widgets on your behalf. Google says "Create My Widget" lets you ask Gemini to make widgets from prompts like "show me upcoming concerts at Madison Square Garden," "display wind speed and rain for Golden, CO," or "suggest new meal prep recipes at the start of each week." Should the feature work as advertised, you can generate custom widgets that are uniquely tailored to your needs and interests.

Gemini gets a major upgrade on Android phones, where widgets plan for you

Sara Heritage is a tech and gaming journalist, who's currently making her way up to Master Ball rank in Pokemon Champions. Bylines in IGN, GAMINGbible, The Gamer and more. You can usually find her tinkering with tech, or restoring old consoles, always with one of her 3 cats nearby. Come and talk with her over on Twitter @SHeritageJourno. Summary Gemini Intelligence on Android brings Create My Widget, which lets you build custom, adaptive home-screen widgets. Agentic AI automates multi-step tasks using screen, image context, and live notifications while you confirm results. Personal Intelligence autofills forms; Rambler turns spoken thoughts into concise text without storing audio. Google has just revealed a revolutionary Android update that immediately makes your phone uniquely yours and directly supports your goals like never before. This summer, Google is rolling out Gemini Intelligence on Android, bringing Gemini's capabilities to the latest Samsung Galaxy and Pixel devices. Google is taking a bold leap in generative UI with Android's signature feature: widgets. Related The 5 Best Google Gemini Features You Must Try Let Gemini wow you with these awesome functions. Posts By Pankil Shah Introducing Create My Widget Words go in, widget comes out Create My Widget is a new AI tool that can build custom widgets for you, simply by describing what you want. For example, if you're a meal prepper, you'll be able to ask Create My Widget to "Suggest three high-protein meal prep recipes every week," and it will build a custom dashboard you can add and resize on your home screen. These personalized tools, backed by Gemini, adapt to your needs. Whether it's on your Gemini Intelligence-powered Android phone or Wear OS watch, your most relevant information is always accessible. What else is coming to Android? Automate multi-step tasks across your apps Soon, Gemini Intelligence devices will execute all tasks -- and more -- for you. Gemini instantly navigates tasks, keeping you ahead. Whether it's snagging a front-row bike for your spin class or finding your class syllabus in Gmail, then putting the books you need in your cart, Gemini handles the logistics while you stay in the moment. Even popular food and ride share apps can be organized thanks to agentic AI. App automation accelerates with screen and image context, which also sounds really helpful. Have a long grocery list? Instantly long-press the power button and command Gemini to build your shopping cart for delivery. See a travel brochure in the hotel lobby? Snap a photo and tell Gemini: "Find a tour like this for six on Expedia." Best of all, you can track progress live through notifications while Gemini works in the background. All you need to do is confirm you're happy with the results at the end. Fill out forms with a single tap With Gemini's Personal Intelligence, Android fills in more text instantly across your apps, including Chrome. Mobile forms? Your device pulls relevant app info to complete forms instantly for you. Connecting Gemini to Autofill with Google is strictly opt-in, meaning you choose if and when you want to use this connection. Turn spoken thoughts into polished text Gboard on Android already lets you convert speech to text quickly and accurately, but this new update will hopefully put an end to voice notes for good. Rambler is a new Gemini Intelligence feature designed for how people actually speak. With Rambler, speak freely, don't worry about ums and ahs, as it creates a concise message from the important parts. Rambler clearly shows when it's enabled and uses audio only for real-time transcription; nothing is stored or saved. Google Gemini OS Android Developer Google Price model Subscription See at Google Play Store Expand Collapse

Google Says It Will Bring These Agentic Capabilities to Android Soon

Google is bringing Gemini Intelligence to Android, its new suite of AI-powered tools for its operating system, the Mountain View-based tech giant announced during the Android Show I/O Edition event. The company hosted the event as part of Google I/O, which is scheduled to take place from May 19 to May 20. Slated to roll out to select Android devices soon, Gemini Intelligence will expand Google's multistep task automation feature beyond the Samsung Galaxy S26 series and Pixel 10 lineup. Moreover, the company has announced that it is also integrating Gemini into Chrome on Android, similar to the browser's desktop version. Gemini Intelligence Will Expand Google's Task Automation to More Android Phones On Tuesday, the company hosted the Android Show I/O Edition as a pre-event to its upcoming Google I/O developer conference. During the event, the company announced that it is bringing Gemini Intelligence, its latest suite of AI-powered features, to Android handsets soon. The rollout of Gemini Intelligence will also expand the availability of the multistep task automation functionality for apps to more Android devices, after it was released for the Samsung Galaxy S26 series and the Google Pixel 10 lineup in March. With Gemini-powered task automation, Android users will soon be able to assign tasks to their handsets. For example, Gemini Intelligence will be able to book a front-row bike for the user's spin class, find their class syllabus in Gmail, and add relevant books to their shopping cart online. On top of this, Gemini Intelligence will be able to retrieve context from the screen of a user's Android handset and images on the phone, rather than asking to manually provide input. For reference, with the new AI features, Android users will be able to use the grocery list in their phone's Notes app and add the items to their shopping cart. Additionally, users will be able to ask Gemini to plan a tour for them by simply clicking a picture of the location. Google has announced that it is bringing Gemini to the Chrome browser on Android. This comes months after the company began rolling out Gemini-powered agentic capabilities in Chrome's desktop app in September last year. With the integration, Gemini AI will be able to summarise webpages, compare the contents of websites, and help users research topics on their Android phone. Another highlight from the event was that Google will soon let users create AI-generated widgets on their Android handsets with Gemini Intelligence. Users will be able to provide descriptions of widgets they want to generate in natural language. Once created, the functionality will let users resize the new widget on their home screens. For example, users can ask the Create My Widget tool to "suggest three high-protein meal prep recipes every week", and it will build a widget that will specifically provide high-protein recipes. It is similar to Nothing's Essential Apps Builder, which is currently being tested in beta. On top of this, Android phones will soon be able to use Gemini's Personal Intelligence to retrieve information from various connected apps to autofill forms for users. However, users will be able to toggle this connection on or off from the Settings menu. Lastly, the company has introduced Rambler for Android, a new Gemini Intelligence-powered tool, which will be able to refine text converted from speech for users, by correcting words and removing unnecessary phrases like "um," "ah", and "like". Coming to security and privacy, Google revealed that it will offer granular controls to Android users by providing an explicit choice to them to enable or disable all the new Gemini Intelligence features or some specific tools. Later this year, Android users will be able to toggle Gemini app automation for specific apps in the Settings menu. Gemini will only be able to access specific apps for which a user has granted permission.

Google introduces Gemini intelligence to make android more proactive and personal

Google has unveiled Gemini Intelligence, a new AI-powered experience designed to make Android devices smarter, more proactive, and deeply personalised. The update brings advanced automation, intelligent form filling, natural voice refinement, and custom widget creation directly into Android devices. Rolling out first on select Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel smartphones, Gemini Intelligence aims to transform smartphones from reactive tools into assistants that can anticipate user needs while maintaining privacy and user control. Google is taking another major step in its AI journey with the introduction of Gemini Intelligence for Android devices. Announced during the Android Show 2026, the new experience is designed to make smartphones more proactive by helping users complete tasks, organise information, and interact with their devices more naturally. The company describes Gemini Intelligence as a blend of advanced AI software and premium hardware capabilities that work together to simplify everyday activities while keeping users in control of their data and privacy. The rollout will begin this summer on the latest Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel smartphones before expanding to other Android-powered devices such as smartwatches, cars, glasses, and laptops later this year. One of the biggest highlights of Gemini Intelligence is its ability to automate multi-step tasks across apps. Instead of manually switching between multiple applications to complete a task, users will be able to rely on Gemini to manage the process for them. Google showcased examples where Gemini could help users secure a front row bike for a fitness class or locate a syllabus in Gmail before adding the required books to a shopping cart. The idea behind the feature is to reduce the amount of repetitive work users perform on their phones every day. The company says it has spent months refining these capabilities on devices like the Samsung Galaxy S26 and Pixel 10, especially across popular food delivery and rideshare applications. Google believes this level of automation can help users stay focused on what matters instead of spending time navigating apps and menus. Another key addition is a new feature called Rambler. While Android devices already support voice typing through Gboard, Google acknowledged that spoken language often differs from written communication. People frequently pause, repeat themselves, or use filler words while speaking. Rambler is designed to bridge that gap. It takes natural speech and transforms it into cleaner, more polished text. The feature can help users create professional-sounding messages without manually editing every sentence. Google says Rambler has been built around the way people actually speak in daily conversations. Gemini Intelligence is also extending into web browsing and productivity experiences. Users will be able to use Gemini in Chrome on Android to summarise webpages, compare information, and assist with filling out complex forms. The AI-powered autofill system can pull relevant details from connected Google services to simplify lengthy data entry tasks. Another feature introduced with Gemini Intelligence is "Create My Widget." This tool allows users to generate custom widgets simply by describing what they want using natural language prompts. Instead of manually configuring layouts and settings, users can ask Gemini to build widgets tailored to their preferences and daily needs. Google says this reflects a broader shift toward generative user interfaces, where devices adapt more dynamically to individual users rather than relying on fixed layouts. The company also emphasised that privacy and user control remain central to the Gemini Intelligence experience. According to Google, the system has been built on three core principles: explicit user control, comprehensive data protection, and operational transparency. As AI becomes more deeply integrated into Android, Google is positioning Gemini Intelligence as a way to make devices feel more helpful without compromising privacy. Users will continue to have control over connected apps, permissions, and personalisation settings. With Gemini Intelligence, Google appears to be moving Android beyond a traditional mobile operating system into what it describes as an "intelligence system." The company's latest push signals its ambition to create devices that not only respond to commands but also anticipate needs and assist users throughout the day. The launch also reflects the growing competition among technology companies to build AI experiences that are more personal, context-aware, and action-oriented. As these features begin rolling out across devices later this year, Gemini Intelligence could become one of the defining upgrades for the Android ecosystem in 2026. Nominate Now for ET AI Awards 2026 and put your AI breakthrough in the spotlight! Disclaimer Statement: This content is authored by a 3rd party. The views expressed here are that of the respective authors/ entities and do not represent the views of Economic Times (ET). ET does not guarantee, vouch for or endorse any of its contents nor is responsible for them in any manner whatsoever. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that any information and content provided is correct, updated, and verified. ET hereby disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, relating to the report and any content therein.

Android Intelligence System brings Gemini app automation, AppFunctions, and XR support

At The Android Show, Google announced a major shift for Android, positioning the platform as an "Intelligence System" powered by Gemini. The company said Android is evolving beyond a traditional operating system by combining AI, hardware, and software to proactively assist users across apps and devices. As part of this transition, Google introduced Gemini Intelligence, a suite of AI-powered features designed for advanced Android devices. The update focuses on task automation, adaptive app experiences, widgets, and support for additional form factors including foldables, watches, cars, XR headsets, glasses, and laptops. Google said Gemini Intelligence expands Gemini's ability to automate multi-step actions across supported Android apps with built-in transparency and user controls. The feature allows Gemini to complete tasks such as ordering coffee from a café app or creating a grocery shopping cart using items from a notes app. According to Google, this creates another engagement channel for developers by driving high-intent traffic to apps without requiring major engineering changes. The capability initially launched with selected food delivery and ridesharing partners and is now expanding to more app categories and Android form factors including foldables, watches, cars, and XR glasses. Google also introduced Android AppFunctions, a new framework that gives developers more control over how AI agents interact with their apps. With AppFunctions, developers can expose app services, actions, and data directly to Android and Gemini using natural language descriptions. The system can then discover and execute these functions across devices and form factors. Google said it has started testing the early-stage APIs in a private preview with apps including KakaoTalk, enabling actions such as sending messages and initiating voice calls through Gemini-powered interactions. According to Google, AppFunctions has already enabled local execution of use cases across 25 apps from different device manufacturers. Developers can currently test the APIs locally and apply for the AppFunctions Early Access Program. Google added that developers can choose between "no-code change" app automation or deeper integration through AppFunctions APIs for more control over how Gemini interacts with their apps. Google announced expanded widget support for additional Android form factors, starting with cars. The company said this creates new opportunities for developers to reach users across more than 250 million Android Auto-compatible vehicles. The update also introduces new capabilities for Jetpack Glance through a new framework called RemoteCompose. Google said RemoteCompose is designed to deliver richer and more adaptive widget experiences while remaining battery efficient. New capabilities include: Google added that these features will work automatically on Android 16 and newer devices while maintaining backward compatibility through Jetpack Glance on older Android versions. RemoteCompose also powers a new "Create My Widget" feature that allows users to ask Gemini to generate adaptive custom widgets optimized for home screens and Wear OS devices. Google announced multiple updates aimed at helping developers build adaptive Android experiences across phones, foldables, tablets, cars, desktops, XR headsets, and new Googlebooks devices. Jetpack Navigation 3 Jetpack Navigation 3 now adds Scene decorators for the Scene API, allowing developers to apply shared UI components such as app bars, navigation rails, and navigation bars at the scene level instead of individual navigation entries. NavDisplay also now supports built-in shared element transitions for smoother scene animations. Jetpack Compose 1.11 Google is also developing new responsive layout tools for Jetpack Compose 1.11, including Grid layouts, Flexbox layouts, MediaQuery support, and Style customization tools. The company said these features are currently experimental and developers are encouraged to provide feedback before the experimental label is removed. Google also introduced updated Android design resources including a refreshed design gallery, a new desktop design hub, and updated adaptive layout guidance. Google announced updates for Android Auto and Android XR development tools. The Car App Library is expanding to simplify app development for both Android Auto and Android Automotive OS while enabling richer in-car media experiences through a single development approach. Google also confirmed expanded support for adaptive video apps, enabling fullscreen video playback while vehicles are parked. For XR devices, Google said the Android XR SDK now supports a wider range of XR hardware, including upcoming wired XR glasses such as XREAL Project Aura. Adaptive Android apps can also automatically appear in immersive XR environments without additional development work. Developers can use Jetpack Compose Glimmer to create glanceable interfaces for display glasses and use Jetpack Projected APIs to bridge phone experiences into a user's field of view. Developer Preview 4 of the Android XR SDK, arriving next week, adds: Google said Gemini Intelligence features will begin rolling out in phases this summer on the latest Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel smartphones. The company added that support will later expand to watches, cars, glasses, and laptops later this year.

Gemini Intelligence comes to Android 17: How worried should Apple be?

The battle lines have been drawn by Google at its recent Android Show 2026. Gemini Intelligence, the new premium AI level for Android from Google, is scheduled to roll out this summer, and it will do things that Apple Intelligence can't. The point is not if Apple needs to worry about it but whether it is too late for the company to make any effort now. Also read: Google is turning Android into a creator studio with Android 17, here's how Gemini Intelligence is the umbrella term for the most advanced AI capabilities that Google has on offer for premium Android devices. Essentially, this is the company's alternative to Apple Intelligence, only more sophisticated. Among other capabilities of this level are task automation, artificial intelligence-powered widgets, enhanced autofill that analyzes your Gmail and Photos, a function known as Rambler, which allows you to turn ramblings into clear text, and Gemini integrated into Android Chrome. As compared to Apple Intelligence, however, things have been rather rough. The massive Siri revamp that should have been the highlight of its offering has not yet materialized, and the results are far from what Apple promised during the 2024 World Wide Developers Conference. Yes, it now offers writing tools and notification summaries. These are good things, but they are not groundbreaking. The Siri revamp promised a smarter phone, but instead it provided a smarter autocorrect function. Also read: Googlebooks vs Chromebooks: How are two different and which should be your next laptop Gemini Intelligence appears to be making more efforts in the same direction. The task automation feature alone makes this technology quite remarkable. You can give it a photograph of a travel brochure and ask it to find you an identical tour through Expedia for six people. It will run in the background and keep sending you notifications until it completes the assignment. It will then shut itself off automatically without you having to do anything. This is an actual assistant, as compared to Siri that can only set a timer. The Create My Widget feature is where things get philosophically interesting. This is Google's first step towards generative UI, meaning your phone interface would shape itself according to your needs. This may seem like a minor issue - a weather widget for cyclists, a meal prep calendar for the week. However, the philosophical aspect of this is rather intriguing - no more static icons on a static grid. While Apple has been able to make some progress in home screen personalization, its home screen customization approach remains purely aesthetic. Then comes the autofill move. Gemini's connection to Photos and Gmail, retrieving information from your pictures and emails, is either highly convenient or deeply intrusive. But it is opt-in, and this is precisely the kind of tight Google integration that Android fans have endured for years because it works. The advantage Apple had was always trust. People trust Apple when they say data does not leave the device. Google will struggle to achieve this level of trust. But should Gemini Intelligence be able to accomplish even half of what it showed at the Android show, trust might very well give way to convenience. Apple has WWDC coming. It better have answers.