Gemini can now automate some multi-step tasks on Android | TechCrunch
Summary
Google's Gemini AI on Android now automates multi-step tasks like ordering rides or food delivery, enhancing user convenience while maintaining security.
Why It Matters
This update reflects the growing trend of AI integration into daily tasks, promising to streamline user experiences. It highlights the importance of user control and security in automation, addressing potential concerns about AI mismanagement.
Key Takeaways
- Gemini can now automate tasks like ordering rides and food delivery.
- The feature is currently in beta and limited to select apps and devices.
- User control is emphasized, allowing task monitoring and cancellation.
- Scam detection features are being expanded alongside task automation.
- The update aligns with broader trends in AI-driven personal assistance.
Google on Wednesday announced a series of updates to its Gemini AI-powered features on the Android operating system, the most notable being a new way to use the AI to handle multi-step tasks like ordering an Uber or food delivery. These automations join other Gemini improvements shipping today, including an expansion of scam detection for phone calls and Circle to Search updates that now let you identify all the items on your phone’s screen. The automations, explains Google, allow users to essentially offload their to-do list to Gemini. In practice, however, the types of things that Gemini can manage are still limited. The company says that the feature, which is in beta, will initially support select apps in the food, grocery, and rideshare categories. It will also be limited to the Gemini app on certain devices, including the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S26 series. And it will initially be available only in the U.S. and Korea. Image Credits:Google AI-powered automations could potentially go wrong, of course, so Google has added some protections. For starters, the automations can’t be kicked off without an explicit command from the device’s owner. As they run, you can watch their progress in real time and stop the task if it’s making a mistake or getting stuck. Google notes also that the automations take place in a secure, virtual window on your phone where they can only access limited apps, not the rest of the data on your device. The feature ties into the ...