Android gets a major intelligence upgrade with Gemini-powered automation

Android phones are about to get much smarter. Google is turning Android from a basic operating system into what it calls an “intelligence system” that can handle complex tasks on your behalf.

The company announced Gemini Intelligence for Android, which combines premium hardware with AI software to work proactively throughout your day. The features will start rolling out on Samsung Galaxy S26 and Google Pixel 10 phones this summer, then expand to other Android devices including watches, cars, glasses and laptops later this year.

Multi-step task automation across apps

The standout feature lets Gemini handle tedious multi-step tasks so you don’t have to. Google has spent months fine-tuning the automation on popular food delivery and rideshare apps to make interactions feel smooth.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• Booking a front-row bike for your spin class automatically
• Finding your class syllabus in Gmail and adding required books to your shopping cart
• Building a grocery delivery order from a shopping list in your notes app
• Finding and booking tours on Expedia after taking a photo of a travel brochure

The system works with visual context too. You can long press the power button over any content and ask Gemini to act on what it sees. You stay in control – Gemini only acts on your command and stops when the task is complete. You handle the final confirmation.

Smarter web browsing with Chrome integration

Starting in late June, Gemini will work inside Chrome to help research, summarize and compare web content. Chrome’s auto browse feature can handle mundane tasks like booking appointments or reserving parking spots.

This addresses a common pain point for mobile users who struggle with complex web interactions on small screens. Instead of juggling multiple tabs and apps, Gemini handles the heavy lifting.

Intelligent form filling

Google is upgrading its Autofill feature to use Gemini’s intelligence. The system will automatically fill complex forms using relevant information from your connected apps, including Chrome.

This tackles the universal problem of filling out lengthy forms on mobile screens. Your device can pull the right information from various apps to complete forms without manual data entry.

The connection between Gemini and Autofill is strictly opt-in. You choose when to enable it and can turn it off anytime in your settings.

Converting speech to polished text

Google is introducing “Rambler,” a new feature that converts natural speech into polished writing. Unlike basic speech-to-text, Rambler understands that people don’t speak the way they want to write.

The feature handles:

• Self-corrections and repetitions
• Filler words like “um,” “ah,” and “like”
• Multiple languages in a single message
• Context and nuance to maintain your voice

Rambler works with Gemini’s multilingual models to seamlessly switch between languages. Whether you’re mixing English with Hindi or other combinations, it understands the context. Audio is only used for real-time transcription and isn’t stored or saved.

Custom widget creation

“Create My Widget” lets you build custom home screen widgets using natural language descriptions. This represents Google’s first step into generative user interfaces.

Examples include:

• A meal prep widget that suggests three high-protein recipes weekly
• A cyclist-focused weather widget showing only wind speed and rain data
• Custom dashboards for any specific information you need

These widgets work on both Gemini Intelligence-powered Android phones and Wear OS watches. You can resize and customize them to fit your home screen layout.

Why this matters for Android users

This represents the biggest shift in Android’s capabilities since its launch. Instead of just running apps, Android phones will actively help complete tasks across multiple apps and services.

The move puts Google in direct competition with Apple’s upcoming AI features while maintaining Android’s customization advantages. For users, it means less time on routine digital tasks and more focus on what matters.

The success will depend on execution. Multi-step automation sounds impressive, but it needs to work reliably across thousands of apps and use cases. Google’s phased rollout suggests they’re taking a careful approach to avoid the pitfalls that have plagued other AI assistants.