Gemini can now automate some multi-step tasks on Android

Source: TechCrunch

Gemini automates multi‑step tasks on Android

Google announced a series of updates to its Gemini AI‑powered features on Android, the most notable being a new way to handle multi‑step tasks such as ordering an Uber or a food delivery. These automations join other Gemini improvements shipping today, including an expansion of scam detection for phone calls and updates to Circle to Search that now let you identify all the items on your phone’s screen.

The automations allow users to offload their to‑do list to Gemini. In practice, the types of tasks Gemini can manage are still limited. The feature, currently in beta, will initially support select apps in the food, grocery, and rideshare categories. It will be limited to the Gemini app on certain devices—including the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S26 series—and will initially be available only in the U.S. and Korea.

Image Credits: Google

AI‑powered automations and safeguards

AI‑driven automations could potentially go wrong, so Google added protections. Automations cannot be started without an explicit command from the device’s owner. While they run, you can watch their progress in real‑time and stop the task if it makes a mistake or gets stuck. Google notes that the automations operate in a secure, virtual window on your phone where they can only access limited apps, not the rest of the device’s data.

Comparison with other AI task tools

The feature ties into a broader trend of using AI to automate personal tasks. For example:

• ChatGPT lets users create tasks that can run on schedules or at specific times and offers an agent that can navigate calendars, generate slideshows, or run code.
• Anthropic’s Cowork brings Claude’s capabilities to non‑coding tasks, enabling everyday file and task management.
• OpenClaw recently went viral for managing emails, calendars, flight check‑ins, and more.

Scam detection expansion

Another Gemini update arriving now is the expansion of a Scam Detection feature for phone calls, now available on Samsung Galaxy S26 series devices in the U.S. (the feature is already offered on Pixel phones in the U.S., Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, and the U.K.). Google is also using its on‑device Gemini model to detect scam texts in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. on Pixel 10 series devices, with support for the Galaxy S26 series coming soon.

Image Credits: Google

Circle to Search enhancement

Google’s Circle to Search feature, which lets you use gestures like scribbles and circles to initiate searches, can now search for everything you’re seeing on the phone screen—not just a single object. This means you can search every item of clothing and accessory in an outfit you like, or learn more about a group of things and related topics displayed on the screen.

Image Credits: Google

Ongoing Gemini updates and industry context

Google has been steadily releasing Gemini updates to its Android ecosystem through new OS releases and updates targeted toward its flagship Pixel phones via frequent “Pixel Drops.” Meanwhile, Apple has been struggling to release a more comprehensive AI feature set, including an AI‑powered Siri, which has faced multiple delays.