Its that time of the year again! Google is scheduled to host I/O 2026. Ahead of its annual event, the company has dropped a Gemini-shaped bomb for Android users. If you’re wondering, no, it hasn’t launched Android 17 (yet). Instead, it did something better. It announced several new features and products that will be available to Android users later this year. These are the announcements that change the way we use our phones but are more likely to get lost in the long list of announcements at Google I/O.
So, what’s on the menu? Well, the list is very long. There’s Gemini Intelligence, which is a slightly smarter version of Gemini available on Android phones, the GoogleBook that replaces Chromebooks, a smart Android Auto and features that bring Android and iOS closer, to name a few. Let’s learn about these developments!
Say hello to Googlebook
Googlebook replaces the Chromebook and brings the best of Android and ChromeOS into a single interface. However, the main thing remains AI (Gemini in this case) and how it can improve productivity. Google says the Googlebook is designed for Gemini intelligence. We’ll talk about Gemini intelligence in a minute. Here are the key things you need to know about Googlebooks:
- it gets magic pointerWhich is created by the Google DeepMind team, and can be accessed by simply moving the cursor on the screen.
- You can specify a date in the email to set up a meeting or select two images to view them together using the magic pointer.
- there is Create your widget Feature that lets you create custom widgets using prompting.
- Google is working with Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo to bring the first set of Googlebooks later this year.
Meet Gemini Intelligence
Gemini Intelligence is a smarter version of Gemini that is already available on Android phones. It brings features like automated tasks and app automation – something that Google always wanted Google Assistant to do but couldn’t do. Here are the main things you need to know about Gemini intelligence:
- Gemini Intelligence helps you automate complex tasks, including multi-step automation capabilities.
- It will also bring app automation to your phone, letting you complete tasks like switching between apps, copying data, and buying groceries based on a list created in the Notes app using just conversational voice commands.
- You’ll also be able to fill out forms in one tap and search, summarize, and compare online content with Gemini Intelligence.
- These features will first be available on the Samsung Galaxy S26 series and Google Pixel 10 series later this year.
- wanderer Lets you convert speech to text but with a catch. It takes the important parts from your speech and then stitches them together into a concise message, skipping natural conversation gaps like ‘ums’ and ‘aahs’ in the process. It supports Gemini’s advanced multilingual model and can seamlessly switch between languages in the same message.
Gemini, create my widget!
Technically, this is a part of the Google Intelligence announcement, but I think it deserves its own space because it lets users create widgets on their Android phones to tackle tasks unique to them.
With this feature, you can create a new widget to manage all your incoming deliveries from online shopping platforms or create a weekly meal chart with low carb recipes by describing what you want using natural language. the best part? It will be available on your Android phone and your Wear OS-powered smartwatch.
Android Auto has become 3D and (Gemini) Intelligent!
2026 is an important year for Android Auto as it’s not only getting a refreshed interface but also some responsible driving features and… well, the power of Gemini Intelligence. Here’s how your driving experience will change this year:
- Extensive changes are being made in the UI of Android Auto. It brings personalized design touches, widgets you can see at a glance and Google Maps from edge to edge on your car’s screen.
- Android Auto’s UI will now be tailored to the shape of your car’s display – circle, rectangle or something else.
- You can also customize the UI by adding relevant widgets to the screen.
- Google Maps is getting 3D views of buildings, overpasses, streets and even stop signs in a way that gives you a better view of the land.
- Android Auto will also let you watch movies in 60fps Full HD mode (depending on your car’s display) as long as your car is parked. This feature will be available in cars from BMW, Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Skoda, Tata and Volvo later this year.
- Android Auto will also support Dolby Atmos-based spatial sound in cars from BMW, Genesis, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Skoda, Tata and Volvo.
- Gemini Intelligence will be available in Android Auto via supported smartphones later this year.
Android and iOS sign a peace treaty – finally!
Well, there are two parts to this announcement. In the first part, Google and Apple, after years of hostility, are finally letting their users share information — files, documents, pictures and videos — in a way that doesn’t involve a separate app.
- What Google and Apple are doing is that they are making Quick Share and AirDrop compatible, which will make data transfer much easier.
- The feature is being rolled out to Pixel users and will be available for Samsung, Oppo, OnePlus, Vivo, Xiaomi, and Honor later this year.
- Those who don’t have a compatible device can use Quick Share on any Android phone to generate a QR code, which will let them instantly share files with an iOS device via the cloud.
- Google has started rolling out this feature to all Android phones and it will be fully available to all users next month.
- Google will also soon make QuickShare available inside popular apps like WhatsApp.
In another part, Google and Apple are making it easier to transfer all the data on your phone from iPhone to Android phone.
- Previously, iPhone users could transfer contacts, photos, videos, calendar events, messages, SMS, and free apps to their new Android phone.
- Now, they can transfer their home screen layouts and even eSIM wirelessly. This functionality will be available on Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel devices later this year.
Android becomes creator friendly
If you’re a content creator who creates entertaining videos on Instagram, Google has announced several new features to make your job easier, some of which are also in partnership with Meta. Here’s what Google announced:
- android is getting one screen reactions The feature that lets you record yourself and your screen at the same time, which in turn will let you overlay your authentic reaction to a video directly onto the trending clip. It will first be available on Pixel phones later this year.
- Google has forcibly joined forces with Meta to bring popular features like Instagram Ultra HDR capture and playback, built-in video stabilization And night vision integration Directly into Android devices.
- Instagram is now fully optimized for Android tablets.
- Adobe Premiere will soon be available on Android phones. Earlier it was available only on iOS.
Additionally, Google is bringing two new features to Instagram’s Edits app exclusively on Android. is the first smart enhance Feature that lets you enhance your photos and videos with advanced on-device AI with a single tap. The second feature is sound separation It identifies and separates audio tracks so you can boost the sound you want and remove what you don’t.
Google lets you pause points!
Google is concerned about your well-being. no it’s true! It’s a set of features built into your Android under the banner of Google Wellbeing that give you tools to manage your screen-time. This year, Google has upgraded these tools and introduced a feature called Pause Point that aims to curb doom scrolling.
What it does is it gives you 10 seconds to ask, “Why am I here?”. During that break, you can do a breathing exercise or set a timer so you don’t spend too much time scrolling. You can also view some favorite photos or jump to alternative app suggestions like audiobooks.
