Google just turned Gemini into a personal assistant that actually does things. The AI can now handle multi-step tasks on Android - booking your Uber, ordering dinner, or getting groceries delivered without you tapping through five different apps. It's a significant shift from chatbots that just answer questions to AI agents that complete real-world errands, putting Google in direct competition with the automation features Apple's been teasing for iOS.
Google is making its biggest bet yet that people want AI to handle their boring errands. Gemini on Android can now automate multi-step tasks like booking rides, ordering food delivery, and scheduling grocery pickups - the kind of stuff that usually requires jumping between apps and tapping through checkout screens.
The announcement positions Google squarely in the emerging AI agent space, where the next battleground isn't just answering questions but actually getting things done. While competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic have been testing agent capabilities in controlled environments, Google's pushing automation straight to consumers' pockets.
Here's what's changed: instead of Gemini just telling you the best route home or suggesting restaurants, it can now open your rideshare app, input your destination, select a car type based on your preferences, and confirm the booking. Same goes for food delivery - tell Gemini you want Thai food, and it'll browse menus, add items to your cart, and complete the order using your saved payment methods.
The technical lift behind this is substantial. Gemini has to understand context across multiple apps, navigate different user interfaces, handle authentication, and make decisions about preferences without constant hand-holding. Google's been quietly building this infrastructure through its Android ecosystem advantages - deep OS integration that Apple has been reluctant to offer third-party AI assistants.
Timing matters here. Apple previewed similar automation features at WWDC last year, promising Siri would finally evolve beyond setting timers. But those capabilities remain limited in beta, giving Google a window to own the narrative around practical AI assistance. The Android install base - over 3 billion active devices globally - gives Google massive distribution if the feature actually works.
