Google on Wednesday announced a series of updates to Gemini AI-powered features on its Android operating system. Most notable are new ways to use AI to handle multi-step tasks like Uber and food delivery orders. These automations join other Gemini improvements shipping today, including expanded fraud detection on the phone and updates to Circle to Search that can now identify every item on your phone’s screen.
According to Google, this automation essentially allows users to offload their to-do lists to Gemini. But in reality, the kinds of things Gemini can manage are still limited.
The company says the feature is in beta and will initially support some apps in the food, grocery, and rideshare categories.
It’s also limited to the Gemini app on certain devices, including the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S26 series. And initially it will only be available in the US and South Korea.
Of course, AI-powered automation can go wrong, so Google has added some protections. First, automation cannot be initiated without an explicit command from the device owner. During execution, you can monitor progress in real time and stop the task if you make a mistake or get stuck. Google also points out that the automation takes place in a secure virtual window on your phone and can only access restricted apps and not the rest of the data on your device.
This feature ties in with the growing trend of using AI to automate more tasks in users’ personal lives. For example, ChatGPT allows users to create tasks that can run on a schedule or at specific times, and provides agents that can perform a variety of computer-based tasks such as manipulating calendars, generating slideshows, and running code. Anthropic’s Cowork, on the other hand, brings the power of Claude AI to non-coding tasks, allowing non-developers to automate everyday file and task management. And of course, an AI tool called OpenClaw has recently made headlines for its ability to manage everyday tasks like sending emails, managing calendars, and checking in for flights.
Another Gemini update arriving now is an enhanced fraud detection feature for calls, which will be available on Samsung Galaxy S26 series devices in the US (this feature is already available on Pixel smartphones in the US, Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, and the UK). Google is also using its Gemini on-device model to detect fraudulent texts on Pixel 10 series devices in the US, Canada, and UK, and soon on Galaxy S26 series phones as well.
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Finally, Google says that you can now search everything you see on your phone’s screen, not just a single object, with the Circle to Search feature, which lets you start a search using gestures like doodle or drawing a circle. This means you can search for all the items and accessories for your favorite outfits and learn more about different things and related topics right on your screen.
Google has been steadily releasing Gemini updates to its Android ecosystem on a regular basis, through new operating system updates and updates targeting its flagship phone, the Google Pixel, through frequent updates known as Pixel Drops. Meanwhile, Apple has struggled to release a more comprehensive AI feature set, including AI-powered Siri, which was recently delayed again to later this year.
