Android to get major AI overhaul in 2026
▼ Summary
– Google is rolling out more smartphone AI features under the Gemini Intelligence banner, focusing on automation and customization.
– App automation on Android is expanding after initial testing with DoorDash and Uber, with Google claiming improvements after fine-tuning.
– Android will handle complex automations across apps, such as finding a course syllabus in Gmail and adding required books to a shopping cart.
– New automations are limited to select apps for food, grocery, and ride-hailing, not all apps on the phone.
– The Gemini-powered Auto Browse feature, which parses webpages for multi-step tasks, will launch on Android for version 12 and higher by late June.
At next week’s I/O conference, Google is expected to spotlight its latest artificial intelligence advancements , and the company has already started previewing what’s coming to Android. With so much to cover, Google decided to share some early details about a major AI overhaul for the mobile platform. Over the next several months, a wave of new smartphone features will arrive under the Gemini Intelligence banner, designed to bring deeper automation and personalization directly to your device.
App automation is set to become a central pillar of the Android experience. Google first tested this capability earlier in 2026 with DoorDash and Uber on Pixel and Samsung phones. While the initial rollout was clunky and left many users frustrated, the company says it has spent the time since refining the system. Now, Google promises Android will handle more complex, cross-app workflows with greater reliability.
Consider this: Gemini could scan a course syllabus from your Gmail inbox, then switch to a shopping app to add the required textbooks to your cart. Or, you could snap a photo of a travel brochure and ask Gemini to book a similar trip through the Expedia app. These examples illustrate how the system aims to reduce repetitive busywork , but only if the automation actually works and your task aligns with supported apps.
That’s the catch. Not every app on your phone will be eligible for automation. For now, the feature is limited to select categories like food and grocery ordering and ride-hailing. For everything else, Google points users to Chrome.
The Gemini-powered Auto Browse feature, which debuted on desktop Chrome earlier this year, will arrive on Android by the end of June. It will be available for all devices running Android 12 and higher. This tool relies on cloud-based Gemini models to parse web content and execute multi-step tasks on your behalf, extending the automation capability beyond a small set of native apps.
(Source: Ars Technica)
