• by Laurie Sullivan , Yesterday

Google's announcement of several upcoming features for its operating system, revealed Tuesday, showcases what artificial intelligence (AI) can do for the upcoming Android 17 and provides a sneak preview of AI for Apple's iPhone and other features for the iOS platform.

As operating systems transition into the next phase, Google’s announcements demonstrate to advertisers that by changing the mobile operating system (OS) into an agentic environment, user online actions can more often lead to conversions by automating commerce.

Advertisers can expect these features to roll out soon, and several will debut on Samsung Electronics' next foldable phones and Google's Pixel 11 series. The phones will highlight Rambler, a voice dictation feature.

The details will emerge just prior to Google Marketing Live and weeks before Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, when the iPhone maker is expected to unveil major changes supported by Google.

The timing reveals an interesting approach to provide a link between the bestselling OS running phones for Android and the bestselling OS running phones for Apple.

Google has also rebranded its consumer-facing smartphone features as “Gemini Intelligence,” similar to the way Apple presents its services, with Apple Intelligence.

Mindy Brooks, vice president of product management at Google, wrote in a blog post that the company spent “months fine-tuning multi-step automation capabilities on the Galaxy S26 and Pixel 10 on some food and rideshare apps to ensure that every interaction feels effortless."

Gemini will have the ability to navigate tasks for users, from reserving a front-row bike for a spin class to finding a class syllabus in Gmail and putting the required books into an online shopping cart.

Automation will become an advertiser’s ally when it comes to targeting consumers with ads and actions that result in conversions.

App automation also will add screen or image context. Rather than manually switching between apps and copying data, Gemini will turn visual context into actions.

Brooks provided the following example: A consumer has a long grocery list on their notes app. She said consumers will be able to press the power button over the list and ask Gemini to build a shopping cart with all the items for delivery.

Beginning in late June, Android devices will get a smarter browsing assistant for the web.

Gemini in Chrome will assist in providing research and will summarize and compare content across the web. Chrome auto browse can follow through with mundane tasks on the user's behalf, from appointment booking to  reserving a parking spot.

Features also will roll out for creators based on Android 17, including an optimized Instagram experience, advanced editing tools and Adobe Premiere.

Google has also made it easier to create reaction videos without the hassle of switching apps or setting up a green screen. With “Screen Reactions,” creators can record themselves and the screen at the same time, enabling an overlay of the authentic response directly onto trending clips.

This feature rolls out first on Pixel devices this summer.