Google on Wednesday announced a series of updates to its AI-powered Gemini features on Android, most notably a new way to use artificial intelligence to handle multi-step tasks like ordering an Uber or delivering food. These automations join other Gemini improvements shipping today, including expanded fraud detection for phone calls and updates to Circle to Search that now let you select all items on your phone’s screen.
Google explains that the automation allows users to offload their to-do list to Gemini. But in practice, the types of things Gemini can manage are still limited.
The company says the feature, which is in beta, will initially support specific apps in the food, grocery, and ride-sharing categories.
The Gemini app will also be limited to certain devices, including the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S26 series. It will initially only be available in the US and Korea.
AI-driven automations are likely to malfunction, of course, so Google has added some protections. For starters, automation processes cannot be initiated without an explicit command from the machine owner. While they’re running, you can see their progress in real time and stop the task if you make a mistake or get stuck. Google also notes that automations take place in a secure virtual window on your phone where they only have access to limited apps, not the rest of the data on your device.
This feature is related to the growing trend of using artificial intelligence to automate more tasks in users’ personal lives. ChatGPT, for example, lets you do this Users create tasks Which can run on schedules or at specific times, as well as providing an agent that can complete a variety of computer-based tasks such as navigating a calendar, creating a slide show, or running code. Meanwhile, Anthropic’s Cowork provides Claude AI capabilities for non-coding tasks, allowing non-developers to automate file management and everyday tasks. And of course, an artificial intelligence tool called OpenClaw Its ability to manage everyday tasks like sending emails, managing calendars, checking flights, and more has recently become popular.
Another Gemini update arriving now is an expansion of the phone call fraud detection feature, which has become available on Samsung Galaxy S26 series devices in the US (the feature is already available on Pixel phones in the US, Australia, Canada, India, Ireland and the UK). Google is also using the on-device Gemini model to detect fraudulent texts in the US, Canada and the UK on Pixel 10 series devices, and soon on Galaxy S26 series phones as well.
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Finally, Google says the Circle Search feature, which lets you use gestures like scribble and circle to start searches, can now search for everything you see on your phone screen, not just a single object. This means you can search for every item of clothing and every accessory in your favorite outfit, or learn more about a group of objects and their associated topic on screen.
Google has been steadily releasing Gemini updates to its Android ecosystem at regular intervals with new OS updates and updates targeting its flagship phone, the Google Pixel, via its frequent updates known as Pixel Drops. Meanwhile, Apple is scrambling to release a more comprehensive set of AI features, which is set to include AI-powered Siri, a launch that was recently postponed again until later in the year.
