Google's Gemini Empowers Android Users with Multi-Step Task Automation

Google has unveiled a series of enhancements to its Gemini AI capabilities on Android, with a key addition being a new automation feature for multi-step tasks like booking an Uber or ordering food. These automations are part of a broader set of Gemini upgrades rolling out today, including expanded scam detection for phone calls and enhancements to Circle to Search that enable identification of all on-screen items.

According to Google, the automations are designed to let users delegate their to-do lists to Gemini. However, the range of tasks Gemini can currently manage remains somewhat limited.

This beta feature will initially support a selection of apps in the food delivery, grocery, and ridesharing sectors, and will only be available in the U.S. and South Korea at launch.

In the U.S. and South Korea, supported apps include DoorDash, Grubhub, Instacart, Lyft, McDonald's, Starbucks, Uber, and Uber Eats. South Korean users will also have access to Kaemin and Kakao T.

At launch, the feature will be accessible exclusively through the Gemini app on select devices, including the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S26 series.

To address potential errors in AI-driven automations, Google has implemented several safeguards. Automations require an explicit command from the device owner to start, and users can monitor their progress in real time, with the option to stop the task if it encounters issues. Google also notes that these automations operate within a secure, virtual window on the device, with access limited to specific apps rather than the user's full data.

This feature aligns with the growing trend of using AI to automate personal tasks. For example, ChatGPT allows users to create scheduled or timed tasks and offers an agent capable of handling computer-based activities like calendar management, slide creation, or code execution. Anthropic's Cowork brings Claude AI's capabilities to non-coding tasks, enabling non-developers to automate file and task management. Additionally, the AI tool OpenClaw recently gained attention for its ability to manage everyday activities such as emailing, calendar coordination, flight check-ins, and more.

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Another Gemini update now available is the expansion of Scam Detection for phone calls, which is rolling out to Samsung Galaxy S26 series devices in the U.S. (The feature is already available on Pixel phones in the U.S., Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, and the U.K.) Google is also leveraging its on-device Gemini model to detect scam texts in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. on Pixel 10 series devices, with support coming soon to the Galaxy S26 series.

Finally, Google has enhanced its Circle to Search feature, which uses gestures like scribbling and circling to initiate searches, to now identify everything visible on the phone screen instead of just single objects. This allows users to search for every clothing item and accessory in an outfit they like, or explore multiple on-screen items and related topics simultaneously.

Google has been consistently rolling out Gemini updates to its Android ecosystem through regular OS updates and targeted enhancements for its flagship Pixel phones via Pixel Drops. In contrast, Apple has faced challenges in delivering a more comprehensive AI feature set, including an AI-powered Siri, whose launch has been delayed again until later this year.