Android is getting a big AI overhaul in 2026

"In the coming months, Google will roll out more smartphone AI features under the Gemini Intelligence banner, bringing more automation and customization to your phone. App automation will be a major element of Android going forward, Google says. Automation for apps is expanding after Google began testing it earlier in 2026 with DoorDash and Uber on Pixel and Samsung phones. It was a very frustrating experience at launch, but Google says it has spent the intervening months fine-tuning the system."

"Google promises that Android will be able to handle more complex automations across apps. For example, the robot could find a course syllabus in Gmail and then hop to a shopping app to add the necessary books to your shopping cart. Google also suggests taking a picture of a travel brochure and telling Gemini to book something similar in the Expedia app. This could theoretically reduce busy work, but that's only true if it works and your task takes advantage of the right apps."

"Android won't just automate any old app on your phone. The automation will only work in select apps, mostly limited to food and grocery ordering and ride-hailing. For everything else, there's Chrome. The Gemini-powered Auto Browse feature that debuted on desktop Chrome several months ago will launch on Android toward the end of June for all Android 12 and higher devices. This feature uses powerful cloud-based Gemini models to parse webpages and handle multi-step tasks for you."

Google plans major Android updates in 2026 centered on AI under the Gemini Intelligence banner. More smartphone AI features will roll out in the coming months, emphasizing automation and customization. App automation will expand after testing began earlier in 2026 with DoorDash and Uber on Pixel and Samsung phones, with improvements made since launch. Android will support more complex automations across apps, such as finding a syllabus in Gmail and adding books in a shopping app, or using a photo of a travel brochure to book similar options in Expedia. Automation will work only in select apps, mainly food and grocery ordering and ride-hailing, while other tasks rely on Chrome. Gemini-powered Auto Browse will arrive on Android by late June for Android 12 and higher devices, using cloud-based Gemini models to parse webpages and complete multi-step tasks.

Read at Ars Technica