Google introduces Android 17 with ‘Gemini Intelligence’ a month before Apple’s iOS 27 reveal

Google today previewed Android 17, the next version of Android it’s bringing to smartphones and other devices. Android 17 includes several new AI features, and it comes about a month before Apple plans to unveil iOS 27 with new AI capabilities.

Google now calls Android’s AI features “Gemini Intelligence,” a brand similar to Apple Intelligence. Google said it was moving Android from an operating system to an intelligence system, with proactive agentic AI on the device.

• Expanded Gemini integration – Geminis will be able to complete more tasks independently, from booking classes to shopping.
• Visual context – Gemini will be able to pull context from what’s on the screen, something Apple will soon bring to iPhones as well. Google says Android users will be able to do things like view a long shopping list in the Notes app, press and hold the power button above the list, and ask Gemini to create a shopping cart with all the items due for delivery.
• Smarter web browsing – Gemini in Chrome will allow users to search, summarize and compare content across the web. Auto-navigation in Chrome will also be able to perform more tasks, like reserving a parking space or making an appointment.
• Autofill – Android can populate more text fields in apps thanks to Gemini’s personal intelligence, which extracts information from apps like Gmail and Google Photos.
• Hiker – Rambler is an AI voice dictation feature that removes filler words like uh, ah and others. Rambler will take the important parts of voice dictation and create a concise message. It works with multiple languages ​​at once.
• Create my widget – Create My Widget allows Android users to create custom widgets by describing what they want in natural language. Widgets can do things like provide the weather, offer recipes, countdown to events, provide the time, display inventory information, and more.

Other changes are also coming to Android 17.

• 3D Emoji – Google adopts Noto 3D, a new collection of 3D emojis.
• Android Auto – Android Auto gets expanded Gemini integration and a refreshed look with support for Material 3 Expressive design. Google adds customizable widgets, edge-to-edge Google Maps, and immersive navigation, which includes 3D views highlighting important navigation details. When parked, cars will support YouTube playback. Gemini Intelligence is coming to Android Auto cars and will be able to do things like automatically respond to texts or order food for pickup.
• Google integrated – Cars with Google built-in get the same features, plus access to meeting apps like Zoom. Gemini is also deployed on cars with Google built-in and can answer questions specific to each vehicle it is installed in.
• On-screen reactions – Screen Reactions allows users to film with both front and rear cameras simultaneously for social media reaction videos.
• Instagram integration – Google worked with Meta to improve the video and photo quality of content captured with Android devices and uploaded to Instagram. Google is also adding new tools to the Edits app and improving Instagram on Android tablets.
• Break point – Users can set an app as distracting, and Pause Point will give a 10-second break before opening an app. Users can do a short breathing exercise or set a timer to limit the time spent in the app. There are also options to view your favorite photos or switch to an alternative app like an audiobook app. Pause Point requires users to restart a phone to turn it off, making it harder to ignore.

Google says Gemini Intelligence features will roll out in waves, starting with the latest Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones this summer, and expanding to Android watches, cars, glasses and laptops later in the year.

Gemini features in Chrome will be available in late June, and other Android 17 features are expected to reach a stable release stage in June.