technology
Google Unveils Gemini AI Expansions, New Googlebooks Laptops and Android 17 Features
Google unveiled Gemini Intelligence, an AI system that automates tasks across phone apps, alongside new Googlebooks laptops arriving in autumn 2026 and dozens of Android features. The announcements came during a livestreamed “Android Show” event on Tuesday.
May 12, 1:01 PM·3m read5 sources
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Google held a livestreamed “Android Show” event where it announced a new Gemini Intelligence AI system that combines the company’s top AI tools into one. The system will automate tasks by directly interacting with apps already on a phone, such as selecting and ordering a takeaway or turning a grocery list into a shopping basket.
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Gemini Intelligence will queue up orders before handing them over to the user for final confirmation.
From late June, Chrome auto browse will bring similar automated powers to websites, including booking tickets or finding parking spots. Autofill is being upgraded to fill in more complex forms by automatically pulling information from apps and services.
Generative user interfaces will be able to make home screen widgets through simple natural language instructions, with the “Create My Widget” feature letting users describe what they want.
Create My Widget will first launch on the latest Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones this summer. Google is also introducing Gemini in Chrome on Android, allowing users to summarize content or ask questions about web pages. Gboard’s dictation system is receiving an AI upgrade called Rambler that edits speech into concise sentences, removing redundant or repeated words, umms, errs and other errors while switching between languages mid-speech.
Pause Point is a new tool to help users avoid apps they have flagged as distracting. It prompts a pop-up suggesting breathing exercises, favourite photos or more productive apps when tapping a flagged app. App timers can be set with Pause Point to limit doom scrolling.
Google’s Quick Share compatibility with Apple’s AirDrop will expand from Pixel devices to phones from Samsung, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi and Honor. Quick Share will be able to share photos or other files with Apple devices using QR codes and the cloud or using pre-existing apps such as WhatsApp.
