Android is getting a big AI overhaul in 2026

Google is preparing a significant AI overhaul for Android in 2026, introducing a suite of features under the Gemini Intelligence banner. These enhancements will bring more automation and customization to smartphones, fundamentally changing how users interact with their devices. The focus is on streamlining tasks and making the Android experience more intuitive.

App automation is a core element of this update. Google promises that Android will handle more complex automations across various applications. For instance, the system could find a course syllabus in Gmail and then add necessary books to a shopping cart or book travel based on a picture of a brochure. This functionality will initially be limited to select apps, primarily for food, grocery ordering, and ride-hailing.

The Gemini-powered Auto Browse feature, previously seen on desktop Chrome, will launch on Android for devices running Android 12 and higher. This feature uses cloud-based Gemini models to parse webpages and manage multi-step tasks, allowing users to watch the AI navigate or let it work in the background. Similarly, the Autofill system will receive an AI upgrade, leveraging Gemini's Personal Intelligence to fill in more comprehensive online form details, including information like a car's license plate, with an opt-in option for users.

New convenience features powered by Gemini Intelligence will include "Create My Widget," enabling AI-generated widgets for displaying account data or information from the web. Users can customize these widgets to recommend meal plans, set event countdowns, or show specific weather metrics. Additionally, Gboard will integrate "Rambler," an AI feature that refines voice input by summarizing spoken words and removing hesitations while retaining context and nuance.

Android Auto is also set for significant changes. It will adapt to varying car display sizes and shapes, offering a redesigned interface with enhanced support for Material 3 Expressive themes and the new Immersive Navigation. Widgets for contacts, weather, and third-party apps will be added, and for cars with Google built-in, cameras will integrate with Maps for more accurate lane guidance. Gemini will also be able to answer questions about vehicle status.

Media apps within Android Auto, such as YouTube Music and Spotify, will receive design overhauls. For the first time, video playback will be available in Android Auto when parked and using supported apps like YouTube. Google states that Android Auto will seamlessly switch to audio-only mode when driving, though this requires collaboration with automakers for safety and technical reasons. Video functionality will initially be supported in select car brands like BMW, Ford, and Mercedes-Benz.