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Android is no longer an operating system, according to Google. It is an “intelligence system”. And just look at a few of the newly announced Android 17 features — most of them Associated with Gemini – Let’s see why.
Google is making Android 17 do more of the work for you — a direction the company has been steadily moving toward. Instead of manually handling every task yourself, many of them will increasingly be managed by Gemini-powered agents.
From smarter party planning tools to a speech-to-text feature that could outperform anything we’ve seen on other phones, Google may be right in calling 2026 one of the “biggest years for Android” — a claim the company made while announcing The Android Show: I/O Edition. Of course, Google has made similar promises about new Android releases before, when Android updates were still mostly about the operating system itself.
It’s important for Google to get this version of Android right as it transitions to an “intelligence system.” Google is setting the tone for developer conference season, and Apple and Microsoft are set to follow. This gives the company a chance to show how its latest AI efforts can transform its biggest operating system before its competitors try to do the same.
Google is fully embracing the era of agentic AI, doubling down on Android 17 with features designed to handle tasks for you — often without you having to be asked directly.
Along with new AI-focused Android improvements, Google also announced major updates to Android Auto She introduced her new line of Google BooksThe company is working to bridge the gap between phones and laptops by putting Gemini at the heart of the experience.
With so many really useful features on the way, here’s everything announced at the Android Show: I/O Edition. And with Google I/O still a week away, there are sure to be more announcements to come.
Watch this: The biggest AI update on Android: Everything to know about Gemini intelligence
Gemini intelligence
Google says the shift from Android to an operating system versus an intelligence system is due to some serious Gemini intelligence. Gemini Intelligence is “a system that learns and works for you”.
We’d honestly be surprised if Google didn’t offer a nice helping of proxy AI to do things for you, and that’s exactly what it offers. Agentic AI, at its core, is the ability to offload tasks and let you Artificial intelligence chatbot Do it for you. It’s important that Google wants to do this using its most personal devices, because the results could really show how AI can improve our lives and save time.
You can ask Gemini to schedule an appointment with a highly rated dentist, book other appointments and extract your driver’s license information when you need to fill out a form that requires it.
Here are some additional highlights of what you’ll be able to do with Gemini Intelligence in Android 17 and later.
Expressive material updates
Google introduced a more vibrant, flashy version of Material Design last year — and in 2026, it will add improvements to Gemini. For Android 17, Google’s AI is designed to melt into the background and only appear when you need it.
When you interact with an AI chatbot, you’ll now see visual cues when it’s thinking, listening, or acting on your behalf. Visual updates are meant to draw attention to what’s important rather than distracting.
While the new Material Expressive updates are more than just design improvements, we think they look great. From what we’ve seen so far, the overall design seems very intentional. It’s not flashy or overdone – there’s no sense of form over function. Instead, it strikes a balance between the two, using subtle visual cues only when needed to communicate specific actions or processes.
Automatic browsing in Chrome
Coming in June, you can now let Chrome do the work for you.
Chrome Auto Browse is coming to Android in late June. You’ll be able to ask Gemini to do things like plan a party, book appointments, and identify hard-to-find or out-of-stock items for you.
Intelligent autofill
The intelligent autofill system will fill out complex forms that include sensitive information.
Autofill isn’t new to Android 17 — or to most operating systems, for that matter. But Google is now working on bringing artificial intelligence to this feature. Gemini can automatically fill in more complex information, such as passport numbers or license plates, via Android and Google Chrome apps with one click. From a user’s perspective, the experience looks pretty similar. What has changed is the intelligence that powers it behind the scenes.
Create my own widget
You can now ask Gemini to create a widget for your home screen with a simple prompt.
The widgets have been available for Android 1.5 Cupcake, and have just received an interesting AI upgrade. You can now ask Gemini to create a custom widget using the information he already knows about you.
From the preview we’ve seen, these tools don’t appear to be tied to any specific app. Instead, it’s designed to display the types of information you typically request from Gemini, and it’s automatically updated right from your home screen. For example, you can ask Gemini to provide three easy high-protein meal prep recipes each week, and automatically update these suggestions in a personalized widget.
We’ll need to get some proper hands-on time before we can make any real judgments on this feature, but it could serve as a useful tool option among the thousands already available.
Redesigned emojis
Google has revamped its entire line of 4,000 emoji to look more realistic.
Google has redesigned 4,000 of its emojis, adding a touch of realism and more visual flair. The new emoji designs will roll out later this year across Gboard, YouTube, and Gmail. The examples Google showed off — including a bowl of ramen — feature noticeably more detail, making it easier to differentiate between things like noodles and toppings. Basically, they’re high definition emojis.
Switch device
Google is making the switch to Android easier, and its latest effort will make you feel right at home when you finally move away from other phone ecosystems like iOS. CNET video producer Carly Marsh had Hard time transferring her iPhone data on last year’s Android-powered Motorola Razr – so this is a welcome update.
Now, home screen shortcuts will be added during the transfer process. Not only will this make the transition easier, but it will also save you time from having to start your home screen from scratch.
In addition to the home screen updates, the new transfer will carry your saved passwords as well.
New features on Instagram
You have a variety of new Instagram features to look forward to when they arrive on Android. By partnering with Meta, Android devices will get true Ultra HDR photo and video support, native video stabilization, and the ability to use Night Mode directly within the Instagram app. Google says that leading Android devices can now match or outperform the leading competitor, Which is, of course, an iPhone.
Exclusive on-device editing features
There are a host of new editing features in Instagram for Android now.
That’s not all for Instagram. Android will soon get exclusive editing features, including Smart Enhance, which can restore details from blurry photos or videos. There will also be a new audio feature that separates audio into individual tracks, allowing you to boost certain elements or remove them entirely.
Reaction videos
You can now record your reaction video with minimal setup.
Creating your own reaction video is easier than ever, and no longer requires the extensive process of downloading a video, filming yourself, and editing both. You can now record your phone’s screen and your reaction using the front camera. It’s like having a virtual green screen built into your selfie camera.
Rambler in Gboard
Gboard’s speech-to-text feature just got smarter with AI with Rambler.
Google’s Gboard keyboard is one of the best options for text-to-speech on Android, but it’s received updates that make it even better. The aptly named Rambler is here to make speech-to-text smarter than ever before.
Instead of dictating exactly what you say, it will now understand the context and adapt accordingly. During the demo we were shown, a Google representative began dictating a list of items for a grocery list in a text message. As they were listing the items, they stepped back and said, “Actually, no, I don’t need bananas.”
Gboard understood what they meant and listed all the items on the list, leaving the bananas out. Next, they asked him to create the list as a bullet and add a matching emoji to each item. Gboard started working and added modifications without any fuss or errors.
Expand Quick Sharing
Recently, Google has expanded its Quick Share functionality, and the latest addition is its compatibility with Apple’s AirDrop. This compatibility will be expanded to more Android phones in the near future. However, compatibility requires specific hardware, so even if your Android phone isn’t compatible, it may still work in some apps, like WhatsApp.
Breakpoint
Android 17’s latest Digital Wellbeing feature will ask you if you want to do something else before opening that distracting app.
A new digital wellbeing feature, Pause Point, lets you label certain apps as “distracting.” When you open one of these categorized apps, you will be greeted with a blocker. This is not just a timer for the app.
Pause Point gives you options to do something instead of opening a distracting app, like a breathing exercise or photos you can browse instead. Additionally, you can set an app-specific timer for the current session you are using the app for.
Android 17 is smarter than ever, pushing AI into more practical and proactive roles beyond what most people are used to today. When Google’s reimagined “Intelligence System” arrives later this year, the company may finally live up to the name.