Google unveils Android Halo to track AI agents working on your phone in real time

Android Halo is Google's new way to keep AI agents from feeling sneaky

The feature builds on Android's upcoming Privacy Dashboard upgrades focused on AI transparency and activity tracking. Google has announced a new Android feature called "Android Halo" that's designed to make AI agents a little less mysterious on your phone. Previewed alongside new Gemini announcements at Google I/O, Android Halo will add a subtle status indicator at the top of your screen that shows an AI agent is working on your device in real time. It'll appear when an agent is completing a task, entering live mode, or sending you a message, keeping that activity visible no matter which app you're using. The idea is that instead of forcing users to constantly switch back into Gemini or another assistant app to check progress, Android Halo keeps the agent's status visible at all times. Google shared the short clip below of what Halo could look like on your phone, showing a spark icon in the top-right corner of the screen. Google says Android Halo will first work with Gemini Spark, the new proactive AI agent coming to the Gemini app, but will also support other AI agents after it launches later this year. The company also teased additional Halo capabilities powered by Gemini Intelligence, though it isn't sharing details just yet. Android Halo appears to be part of Google's broader push to make AI agents feel more transparent on Android. Earlier, Google also announced upgrades coming to Android's Privacy Dashboard to better track AI assistant activity across apps. Android phones will soon show real-time indicators and detailed activity logs for actions performed by AI assistants on-device. Users will also be able to review which AI assistants were active and which apps they accessed within the last 24 hours through the Privacy Dashboard.

Android Halo could be the missing link between Android and AI agents

Google I/O 2026 This story is part of our complete Google I/O coverage Updated less than 4 minutes ago Google is trying to solve one of the biggest problems with AI agents on smartphones: you rarely know what they are doing. At Google I/O 2026, the company previewed a new Android feature called Android Halo, designed to keep users updated on their AI agent's activity without constantly interrupting them. So, instead of opening a separate app or waiting awkwardly for an AI task to finish, Android Halo places subtle status updates at the top of your phone's screen. Whether your agent is working in the background, entering live interaction mode, or sending a message, Halo keeps that progress visible in real time. And honestly, this feels like a smart direction for AI on phones. AI agents definitely need better communication Right now, most AI assistants still feel disconnected from the operating system. You ask them to do something, and then... silence. There is often no clear indication of whether a task is still being processed, is partially complete, or has been forgotten entirely. Android Halo appears to fix that communication gap. Google says the feature is designed to let users continue whatever they are doing while their AI agent works in the background. Instead of forcing attention shifts, Halo acts more like a lightweight live activity system for AI tasks. That could make AI agents feel like integrated parts of Android itself. Gemini Spark will be front and center Google confirmed that Android Halo will work with Gemini Spark and other supported AI agents when it launches later this year. On devices powered by Gemini Intelligence, Halo will also unlock additional features, though Google has not shared those details yet. The bigger takeaway here is that Google clearly wants Android to evolve beyond apps and toward persistent AI-driven experiences. Android Halo may look like a small interface tweak, but it changes how people interact with AI throughout the day -- and potentially makes these agents feel much more alive.

What is Android Halo? - Phandroid

Google's focus on agentic AI software has pretty much reshaped its overall approach to Gemini, as shown with the reveal of Gemini Spark for example. That in mind, the company also announced "Android Halo," which essentially serves as a way to keep an eye on your agentic assistant's ongoing activities via your Android phone. In a way, Android Halo functions as a notification system of sorts, and Google says that it gives you current updates on your agents' status through "subtle communication" which will be visible on the top of your phone's display -- this shows up whenever the agent is working on a task, functions in live mode, or when it sends a message to a user. This way, users can instantly see what their agent is up to at a glance. As for availability, Google says that Android Halo will roll out later within the year, and will be compatible with Gemini Spark and a number of other AI agents. Google didn't specify which phone brands will support the feature, although we can expect more information within the coming months.