What you need to know
- The Android Show discussed what AI features users can expect on the Galaxy S26 series and Pixel 10 this summer.
- Gemini Intelligence will arrive soon, giving users task automations, as well as the AI's ability to understand visual context and what's on your screen.
- With this Agentic Future, Google says it will continue to give users control over the AI, so it doesn't do anything without their explicit request, and users reserve the ability to turn it off or on whenever.
Gemini Intelligence was a hot topic for Google during the Android Show, showcasing how the company wants to help users automate certain tasks.
The software is headed to Android devices following the Android Show "this summer," and Google says you can expect it on its Pixels and the latest Samsung Galaxy phones. Dressed in the company's Material 3 Expressive design, Gemini Intelligence is receiving automation capabilities for apps for food and rideshare. Google teases more. It adds that soon, "Gemini will navigate tasks for you — whether it’s snagging a front-row bike for your spin class or finding your class syllabus in Gmail, then putting the books you need in your cart."
Sure, your word is pretty good to work with an AI, but Google says there's potential there for visual context. Gemini Intelligence is said to incorporate "screen and image context." Without switching between a bunch of apps, Gemini can be activated over your notes app (for example) to help you create a grocery list. This could even work for a photo you snapped of a banner or poster.
Google adds that you can watch Gemini's progress via Live Notifications, and the AI will stop once it's done. Users can expect Gemini Intelligence to arrive on the Galaxy S26 series and the Pixel 10 first this summer.
Gemini Intelligence isn't stopping there, as users should expect a smarter Autofill on their phones. Google says it wants to tackle one problem: filling out complex forms on a mobile screen. Typically, you only autofill with recent data, such as your email address. With Gemini, users can connect the AI to Autofill, allowing it to connect with your apps to automatically write in the right information.
Google reiterates that this is an opt-in-only feature. It can be enabled or disabled whenever you like in your settings. In a similar vein of filling in text, Gboard is getting a new feature called "Rambler." It's exactly what you think it might be. We all ramble at times, and Rambler, when converting your speech into text, will take out unnecessary words and phrases.
What's more, Rambler can understand multiple languages. A bit of Spanglish (Spanish and English) is now effortlessly added to your text message, thanks to Gemini's smarts working as the backbone of Rambler.
Google's AI is also staring down another ambition: generative UI. In short, Gemini Intelligence will help users create custom widgets on their phones. This will be introduced as "Create My Widget." Users can tell Gemini on their home screen what kind of widget they'd like. If you want a widget that counts down the days to your first marathon, helps you find meals to make during the week, and more, Gemini can do that. These capabilities are coming to your Android phone and Wear OS devices.
Agentic? Yes, but Google wants safety
Google is slowly but surely altering our perspective on Android. It states that it wants to shift it from a regular, static OS to an "intelligence system."
To do that, Gemini Intelligence is required. While we've already gone over its major processes and features for 2026, Google isn't shying away from your security. This is often a major concern, as many features require users to provide sensitive information or access to things on their devices that would give anyone pause.
Explicit user control is one area where Google says it's focused. Through this, it ensures that users receive "granular controls" over the AI, meaning you can turn it on or off whenever you like. It's security talks confidence. Gemini is said to only automate tasks or complete a request when you've asked it to. Moreover, "Gemini is designed to require user confirmation before making purchases on your behalf." Then, there's your explicit intent. Users stay in control over how and where Gemini uses their data.
If you're okay with sharing your text messages, that is your choice (and vice versa). Google has also worked on several layers of data protection for users, thanks to the Private Compute Core, Private AI Compute, and protected KVM. Transparency is a must, which is why users will find AI assistant history logs and Live Notifications, which let you know how Gemini is doing, exist on Android.
Android Central's Take
For me, Gemini shines when it comes to automation and questions and discovering new activities. To take a photo of a poster that you've seen, and to then ask Gemini to find something similar for you, is cool. It's a decent bit of helpfulness that I feel will position Gemini nicely in people's minds. For a quick bit of help while you're out, Gemini can be a powerful aid to avoid spending too much time researching, which will take away from your vacation time.
