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Gemini Unlocks App Automation: A Clunky Yet Crucial Glimpse into AI's Mobile Future
The Verge (Google) March 21, 2026
Google's Gemini is rolling out a new beta feature that allows its AI to directly operate apps on phones like the Pixel and Galaxy, automating tasks like ordering food or booking rides. While currently slow and imperfect, this marks a pivotal moment, showcasing a functional AI assistant taking control of device actions—a significant step toward a truly autonomous mobile experience. Executives should note this as a precursor to how AI will fundamentally change user interaction and task execution on personal devices.
Key Intelligence
- •Gemini is testing new app automation on Pixel and Galaxy phones, enabling the AI to directly interact with and control other applications.
- •This beta feature allows Gemini to execute tasks such as ordering food or hailing rides, marking a shift from conversational AI to actionable AI.
- •Despite being described as 'slow' and 'clunky' in its current form, reviewers consider it a profound 'glimpse of the future' for AI assistants.
- •The development signals a major leap in AI's ability to move beyond generating text or images, into directly manipulating digital interfaces.
- •Google's move hints at a future where smartphones become highly proactive AI agents, streamlining complex multi-app tasks without constant user input.
- •This could set a new standard for mobile operating systems, influencing how device manufacturers integrate advanced AI capabilities into their ecosystems.