Android 17 becomes an intelligence system as Gemini Intelligence takes control of your phone

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.

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.

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