Google transforms Android with Gemini Intelligence AI that automates tasks across your apps

Google announces raft of free upgrades for Android phones

Tech firm to expand AI capabilities of high-end devices with Gemini Intelligence and says new range of laptops on the way Google has announced a range of features coming to Android phones this year, including a new Gemini Intelligence AI system and a tool to help users avoid distracting apps. Revealed in a livestreamed "Android Show" event, the free upgrades are scheduled to arrive in waves over the next year for high-end new and old phones alike, including Samsung and Pixel devices. Google also revealed that a new lineup of laptops will arrive in the autumn. Gemini Intelligence will combine the company's top AI tools into one system aimed at being more proactively useful. It will be able to automate tasks by directly interacting with the apps already on a phone. This could include selecting and ordering a takeaway, turning a grocery list into a shopping basket ready for delivery, or finding a class book list in an email and ordering the right texts. Gemini will queue up the orders before handing them over to the user for final confirmation. From late June, Chrome auto browse will bring similar automated powers to websites, including for booking tickets or finding parking spots. Autofill is also being upgraded to fill in more complex forms by automatically pulling information from apps and services. Generative user interfaces will be able to make home screen widgets through simple instructions, such as asking for lists of local toddler-friendly events or weather conditions for cycling routes. Google's dictation system in Gboard is also having an AI upgrade called Rambler, which edits speech into concise sentences, removing redundant or repeated words, umms, errs and other errors, while being able to switch between languages mid-speech. Pause Point is a new tool to help users avoid apps they have flagged as distracting. Tapping on an offending app will prompt a pop-up suggesting breathing exercises, favourite photos or more productive apps instead. App timers can be set to limit doom scrolling. Google's Quick Share compatibility with Apple's AirDrop will expand from Pixel devices to a range of phones from Samsung, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi and Honor. Quick Share will also be able to share photos or other files with Apple devices using QR codes and the cloud, or using pre-existing apps, such as WhatsApp. Instagram on Android is getting on-device editing tools including a one-tap smart enhancement tool for photos and video, plus a sound separation tool to remove unwanted background noise. Instagram will also support ultra HDR capture and playback, video stabilisation and night-sight integration. In another development, Screen Reactions will record a clip of a user and their screen simultaneously, to instantly create reaction videos that are popular on social media. Finally, Google has redesigned all 4,000 emojis to make them 3D on its various Pixel devices and services. Google's in-car system, Android Auto, is having a makeover to deliver smooth animations and bolder fonts, colours and wallpapers. It will also allow widgets and shortcuts to be added to the car's display and integrate Gemini Intelligence features from compatible phones. Video playback on the car's screen will be allowed when parked and this switches to audio-only when the car is moving. The biggest upgrade is to Google Maps. A new immersive navigation look creates a 3D view of buildings, bridges and terrain, and important details will be overlayed on routes, such as lane guidance, traffic lights and road signs. Google is relaunching its laptop ambitions with a new category of devices called Googlebooks. Teased as a replacement for Chromebooks, they will feature the Chrome browser, Android apps and Gemini Intelligence features and be produced by manufacturers including Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo. The machines will come in various sizes all with Google's "glowbar" on the lid, similar to the original Chromebook Pixel from 2015. They will offer seamless connectivity with Android devices. Gemini will bring proactive AI including a "magic pointer" that turns the traditional mouse cursor into an AI pointer that offers contextually aware help and tools. Models, prices and more information on the Googlebooks will be available in the autumn.

Google just turned Android into a powerful personal assistant - and it's coming to your phone sooner than you think | Stuff

Google has announced a wave of major updates to Android, and honestly, it's the most excited I've been about a phone upgrade in years. The headline feature is Gemini Intelligence. It lets your phone automate complex, multi-step tasks across your apps. Think of it as having a tiny personal assistant living inside your phone. Want to order groceries? Just point Gemini at your shopping list and it'll build the cart for you. Spot a travel brochure you like? Snap a photo and ask it to find a similar tour on Expedia. Gemini does the legwork, even filling in your passport details when booking a trip. Chrome on Android is getting smarter too. A new AI browsing assistant will help you summarise articles, answer questions about pages you're reading, and even handle tasks like booking a parking spot - all without switching apps. It's built on Gemini 3.1, Google's most capable model. There's also a new feature called Rambler that could genuinely change how people communicate with their AI assistants. It converts your spoken words into polished, written text. It's not just speech-to-text - it cleans up your "ums" and rambling, and even handles multiple languages in a single message. The example given in the press preview was "Can you buy six eggs, some bananas, and a loaf of bread, actually make that 12 eggs." Instead of typing out the whole message, Rambler went back and corrected the number of eggs. As someone who uses speech-to-text a lot, and is a bit of a rambler, this sounds like a serious game changer. Another standout is Create My Widget. You describe what you want in plain language, and Android builds a custom widget for your home screen. A weekly high-protein meal plan. A weather widget that only shows wind and rain. It sounds really smart. For creators, Android 17 is looking like a genuine upgrade. Screen Reactions lets you record yourself and your screen simultaneously, making reaction videos far less of a hassle. Google has also partnered with Meta to bring Ultra HDR capture, built-in video stabilisation, and Night Sight to Instagram on Android. The Adobe Premiere app is coming to Android this summer too, bringing professional editing tools and YouTube Shorts templates straight to your phone. Sharing files is getting easier as well. Quick Share now works with AirDrop on supported Android phones, and you can generate a QR code to instantly share with iPhone users via the cloud. Switching from iPhone to Android is also becoming much more seamless, with a new wireless transfer process, built with Apple, that moves your passwords, photos, messages, apps and even your home screen layout across. Oh, and, finally, emoji. Google is launching Noto 3D, a new collection of three-dimensional emoji.