Google just dropped a significant update that turns Gemini into a legitimate "AI agent."
As of February 25, 2026, Gemini can now handle multi-step tasks on Android. We aren't talking about simple voice commands like setting a timer; we mean the whole chain. Gemini can now open an app, browse your options, confirm your address, and place the order without you lifting more than one finger to ask.
You basically tell Gemini to "order a burrito" and go back to your life while it handles the digital legwork.
How it works:
Under the hood, Gemini operates like a person sitting at your phone and tapping through apps on your behalf. It reads the screen, identifies the right buttons, and navigates the interface just like you would. The only difference? It’s faster and doesn't get distracted by Instagram notifications along the way.
Google calls these "automations." And the key distinction is that they chain multiple actions across various apps to complete a single goal.
The feature is currently in beta and supports select apps in three specific "high-friction" categories:
Food Delivery: Reordering your usual meal from DoorDash.
Grocery: Scheduling a weekly restock via Instacart.
Rideshare: Booking an Uber or Lyft without the five-minute app juggle.
What is especially cinematic is the Live Progress View. As Gemini works, you can literally watch it navigate through the app in real time.
And yes, Google was clearly thinking about the "what if it goes wrong?" scenario cuz if Gemini picks the wrong restaurant or drop-off point, you can jump in and stop it immediately.
Privacy and Safety:
To keep things from getting creepy, these automations run inside a sandboxed virtual window. Plus Gemini only has access to the specific app it’s working in, not your private photos or messages. It also cannot start a task without an explicit command from you. So no, it won't spontaneously order 47 burritos at 3 AM on its own. Probably.
The catch? It's beta, US & Korea only for now, and limited to Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S26 devices.
But hey, to automate your life effectively, Gemini needs the keys to the castle. We’re talking about your location data, payment information, app usage patterns, and deep personal preferences.
The big "if" remains: Google hasn't detailed exactly what data stays on your device versus what gets beamed to their cloud servers. This distinction will matter enormously to privacy advocates and regulators who are already putting AI data practices under a microscope.
And get this: If your "intent" to buy a burrito is being logged and sold to advertisers, the convenience might not feel so free anymore.
The Bottom Line: We are essentially trading our digital footprints for a few extra minutes of free time. Whether that is a bargain or a trap depends entirely on how transparent Google decides to be with their data logs.
