Google Assistant has taken a leap that completely changes the relationship with the smartphone: Gemini no longer just answers questions, it is now capable of controlling the mobile phone and performing complex tasks on its own.The company presents it as an agent that moves between applications, adjusts system options, and completes lengthy processes while the user goes about their business.
This new stage of the Agentic AI on Android It kicks off with the Samsung Galaxy S26 and Pixel 10, which have become the showcase for a feature that directly points to how we'll use our phones in the coming years. For now, the rollout is concentrated in the United States and South Korea, but the impact will also be felt in Europe, where manufacturers and regulators are closely scrutinizing how device control, permissions, and privacy are managed.
From assistant to mobile autopilot
Gemini can now act as an "autopilot" for the phoneThe user gives a simple command, and the AI ​​takes care of chaining together all the necessary steps. Google's idea is clear: to move from an assistant that answers queries to an agent that rolls up its sleeves and does the work within the apps.
In practice, this means that Gemini It moves between applications, fills out forms, changes settings, and completes workflows. without the user needing to press each button. Everything happens in the background: the mobile phone can continue to be used normally while the agent performs the task.
Google provides very everyday examples to illustrate this. You can ask it to Place an order at your usual pizzeriaThe AI ​​reviews the family group in the messaging app, identifies what each person wants, and enters the delivery app to process the order. Or it can ask them to reserve a table, buy tickets, or manage an online purchase in several steps.
The key is that There's no need to jump from app to app anymoreGemini connects the dots: it opens the appropriate app, navigates its menus, enters the data, and displays the final result when finished. What previously required several minutes of tapping and navigating menus can now be reduced to a voice command or a text message.
To get there, Google has equipped Gemini with agents specialized in specific tasks, small modules that manage specific areas (orders, reservations, information organization, system adjustments…) and that collaborate with each other to complete the task.
What can Gemini do when they control the phone?
Beyond the media impact, the real interest in this feature lies in the concrete tasks it performs. According to Google, Gemini can already handle several types of actions on the phone, although with clear limits in this initial phase.
- System settings management: Activate or deactivate options without diving into menus. Simply request a permission change, adjust brightness, modify connectivity options, or alter more hidden parameters.
- Information extraction and organization: Collect data from different applications (messaging, email, calendars, travel apps) and present them in a single summary, without the user having to open each one.
- Reservations and purchases with several steps: To initiate a restaurant reservation, a ride with an app like Uber, or an online purchase, the user completes the necessary steps. The user retains final control over payments and sensitive decisions.
- Background automation: While Gemini is working, the phone remains available. The process is controlled through dynamic notifications, similar to Live Activities on other systems, from which you can pause or cancel it.
Google insists that Every action is visibly recordedThe user can review what the AI ​​has done before confirming critical changes or payments. This isn't about giving it carte blanche, but rather delegating the mechanical steps while maintaining oversight.
For those who struggle with mobile phone settings, this approach is a significant help: Gemini can become the "fix" that configures the phone for themwithout having to memorize menu paths or technical terms. For advanced users, the benefit is time: automating sequences that previously took several minutes and many taps.
Even so, the system is not all-powerful. In this initial phase Application compatibility is partial And many functions depend on developers adapting their apps so that the agent can handle them reliably. Furthermore, the rules of each country and app store will determine the extent of this automation.
How Google protects mobile control: virtual window, age, and permissions
Letting AI control your phone is no small matter, and Google knows it. That's why they've focused on several security mechanisms. The most notable is that All of Gemini's actions are executed within a sort of isolated "virtual window". inside the mobile phone.
This environment functions as an intermediary layer: The agent operates within that space and does not have free access to the rest of the system.This reduces the risk of a specific task accidentally opening the door to unintended data or functions. Ideally, the user experience should be seamless: they see the process as if it were happening in regular apps, but technically it's encapsulated.
In addition, Google has added an age filter. Gemini's app control will only be activated on Google accounts belonging to users over 18 years of age.This is a way to limit the reach of devices used by minors, a particularly sensitive issue in European markets where child protection regulations are strict.
There are also restrictions regarding which applications can be controlledInitially, at least, the feature will be limited to a select set of apps, likely those where Google has been able to best validate the agent's behavior. The list hasn't been finalized yet, but it's expected to include Google services, major messaging apps, and some delivery and transportation platforms.
In parallel, the permission controls and action historyThe user will be able to review exactly what Gemini has done, from the command it launched to the screens it has navigated. And, above all, they will have to confirm sensitive operations: payments, significant configuration changes, or access to highly sensitive data.
Where and when it arrives: Galaxy S26, Pixel 10 and the leap to other Android devices
The new ability to Gemini mobile control launches on a limited number of devices and in a limited number of countriesGoogle has chosen the new Samsung Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra as its showcase, in addition to the upcoming Pixel 10, which thus become the spearhead of this strategy.
In these models, Gemini integrates as a system agent capable of managing background taskscoexisting with other AI functions such as Surround to Search, which has also received improvements (for example, recognizing several objects at once on the screen to show richer results or allowing you to virtually try on clothes).
The initial rollout will focus on United States and South KoreaThese are two markets where both Samsung and Google typically launch their latest innovations. For now, the company is talking about availability "very soon" in beta, with no firm date for a global rollout.
For Europe and Spain, the horizon is more open. Gemini's arrival as the agent controlling the mobile phone will depend on several factors.: the adaptation of manufacturers, compliance with data regulation (including GDPR), platform service rules and Google's own strategy with local commercial agreements.
Even so, the move points to a trend that we'll likely see spread to other Android brands by 2026. Google has already hinted that other recent phones will gradually incorporate these capabilities, which opens the door for... each manufacturer has its own "agent" based on Gemini or other AI.
A new era for mobile assistants and what to watch out for
With this step, Google closes the chapter on classic assistants and introduces a new model: from responding to actingIn contrast to tools that were limited to executing simple commands, the current goal is for AI to become a collaborator capable of handling complete processes.
The true value of this proposal will be measured day by day. We'll have to see. How does Gemini respond to complex flows, what level of errors does it make, and how much latency does it introduce? when asked to chain multiple apps together. It will also be key to check if third-party developers adopt the necessary integration to ensure their services function smoothly.
Another delicate front will be that of the privacy and trustThe fact that AI can access almost every aspect of a mobile device necessitates clear audit controls, activity logs, and options for limiting its reach. Users will need to know what's happening, be able to disable features, and, if desired, restrict the agent's role to very specific tasks.
Meanwhile, the market is becoming saturated with similar offerings: each major manufacturer is developing its own intelligent agent for mobile devices. This could accelerate innovation, but it could also create confusion if each system offers a different level of transparency and protection. How Google manages this first wave of Gemini as a mobile controller will set the bar. for the rest.
If everything falls into place—sufficient compatibility, clear controls, and stable performance—we'll likely soon get used to delegating many of the tasks we currently perform manually on our phones to AI: from configuring Wi-Fi to organizing an entire trip. And, as is often the case with technology, when that happens, it will be easy to forget how strange it sounded at first that "Gemini now controls our phones."
