Google releases experimental ‘COSMO’ AI assistant app on Play Store [U]

Source: 9to5Google

Overview

Yesterday, Google published COSMO, an experimental AI assistant application for Android devices, on the Play Store.

Update: COSMO has since been removed from the Play Store. The release was accidental.

The app appears to come from Google Research – com.google.research.air.cosmo – but it was published under the company’s main Play Store account. The listing describes COSMO as bringing “the power of artificial intelligence directly onto your device,” with use cases ranging from organizing your day to answering complex questions.

COSMO is a 1.13 GB download because it includes a local Gemini Nano model. After installation, it requests several system permissions and presents a very basic chat interface that reflects its experimental nature. It seems intended as a test bed for future experiences rather than a consumer‑ready product.

Features (Skills)

• List Tracker – Automatically suggests lists to keep.
• Document Writer – Offers to create documents, letters, or summaries when you mention needing one.
• Calendar Event Suggester – Proposes to add events to your calendar after you discuss plans.
• Browser Agent – Can automate tasks using Mariner.
• Add Timer – Suggests creating a timer in the clock app for time‑bound tasks.
• Deep Research – Offers to conduct in‑depth research and generate a full report on complex topics.
• Quick Photo Lookup – Finds a photo you mention so you can share it without interrupting the conversation.
• Google It – Performs a web search to answer quick questions.
• Jargon Definitions – Explains complex jargon or acronyms.
• Provide Insight – Supplies ideas and insights when you’re seeking information or opinions.
• People Understanding – Provides context about people.
• Event Understanding – Provides context about events.
• Recall – Helps you remember things.
• Conversation Summary – Summarizes recently ended conversations when you change context.

Settings

In the settings page, there is a Fulfillment Model menu with three options:

• Hybrid – Uses a combination of online (PI) and offline (Nano) models.
• PI Only – Uses the server‑based PI model exclusively.
• Nano Only – Uses the local Gemini Nano model exclusively.

The exact meaning of “PI” isn’t clarified, but the local option refers to Gemini Nano.

Other settings allow you to configure voice match and screen‑access permissions.

Conclusion

COSMO appears to be a premature—or accidental—release ahead of Google I/O 2026. It is not intended for general consumers and serves primarily as an experimental platform for future AI assistant experiences.