Google Adds AI Tools to Create Android Apps and Widgets

Google announced updates to its AI Studio tool at I/O 2026 that allow users to generate native Android apps from text prompts and export them directly to a phone. The feature is limited to personal utility apps, and standard Play Store rules continue to apply.

The company also previewed a separate tool for creating custom widgets through prompts. Examples include widgets that display specific weather data or suggest recipes based on Gemini's knowledge base.

Google described the widget feature as an early step toward a generative UI system that would create interfaces on demand. Android president Sameer Samat said the goal is measured personalization rather than daily interface changes. The same announcement noted that Apple is reportedly developing a similar prompt-based shortcut system for iOS.

Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman covered the development. These tools build on existing AI coding assistants that have already enabled non-developers to create desktop applications for specific needs.