Google wants Android to stop being an operating system and start being what it calls an “intelligence system.” It said so at The Android Show: I/O Edition 2026 on May 12, where it laid out what Android 17 would bring.
The centrepiece is Gemini Intelligence, a set of proactive AI features. It rolls out first on the latest Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones this summer. Watches, cars, glasses and laptops follow later in 2026.
What Gemini will do
Gemini can now work across several apps to finish multi-step jobs: booking a fitness class, pulling information from Gmail, filling a shopping cart. It keeps going in the background and sends updates. Final approvals stay with the user.
Autofill gets a Gemini upgrade that can complete more complicated forms from connected apps, and it can be switched off in settings. In Gboard, a feature called Rambler turns casual speech into cleaner text by stripping out pauses, filler words and repeats. It handles mixed-language speech, such as Hindi and English in one sentence, and Google said the audio is processed in real time and not stored. Create My Widget builds a home-screen widget from a text prompt, for example one that shows meal prep ideas, weather or fitness updates.
Chrome on Android gets an “Auto Browse” tool that can pull details from emails or webpages to do things like reserve parking for an event. Later in June, Gemini features arrive in Chrome to summarise pages and compare information across sites.
Sharing, switching and wellbeing
Quick Share now works with AirDrop on supported phones, starting with Pixel and reaching Samsung, OPPO, OnePlus, Vivo, Xiaomi and HONOR through the year. Any Android phone can also make a QR code to send files to an iPhone through the cloud. Google said it worked with Apple on a new iOS-to-Android migration process that moves passwords, photos, messages, contacts and even the home screen layout wirelessly, eSIM included.
A new wellbeing feature, Pause Point, holds users for 10 seconds when they open an app flagged as distracting. They can do a short breathing exercise, set a timer or switch to something like an audiobook.
Cars
Android Auto is redesigned, with customisable widgets and edge-to-edge Google Maps. Immersive Navigation shows buildings, terrain, overpasses, lanes, traffic lights and stop signs in 3D. For the first time Auto can play video, including YouTube in 60fps full HD, on supported cars while parked. Dolby Atmos support is coming first to cars from brands including BMW, Genesis, Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Skoda, Tata and Volvo.
The release
Several betas came first. Beta 4 added a new system icon and fixes, and earlier betas widened bubble-style windows beyond Facebook Messenger, added a screen recorder that can capture a single app window, and allowed 14-bit RAW photos.
In mid-June Google released the final Android 17 alongside Wear OS 7, starting with Pixel devices. Its headline feature is a bubble bar that gathers recent apps into floating bubbles at the bottom of the screen. A new screen recording mode captures the selfie camera and the screen together, and foldables get a gaming mode with a 50/50 layout and a dynamic gamepad. Security additions include a Mark as Lost option in Find Hub. Parental controls can now be set with a PIN without a linked Google account. Wider availability is due in the coming weeks, and Android 17 runs on the Pixel 8a, 9a and newer.
Sources
- Google previews Android 17 features ahead of I/O: Check what's coming
- Android 17 arrives with new multitasking bubble bar and deeper Gemini AI integration | AI News Google | CryptoRank.io
