The company’s new AI-powered search box can answer complex questions, perform tasks and run digital agents in the background, signaling a major step beyond traditional web search.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, California — Google has unveiled one of the most significant changes to its search engine in more than two decades, introducing an AI-powered version of Search designed not only to answer questions, but also to act on behalf of users.
Announced at Google I/O 2026, the new system brings advanced Gemini model capabilities directly into Search, transforming the familiar search box into what Google describes as an intelligent interface for AI agents. Instead of simply returning links, the upgraded Search can help users complete more complex tasks, interpret multimodal inputs and generate richer responses through AI.
The move reflects a broader shift across the technology industry: the race is no longer only about building more powerful chatbots, but about creating AI systems that can perform practical digital work. Google’s new Search features are designed to let users call on agents “just by asking a question,” potentially allowing AI to organize information, compare options and carry out multi-step tasks in the background.
At the same event, Google also announced major updates to Gemini, including a redesigned assistant interface and new model improvements aimed at faster, more capable AI behavior. The updated Gemini experience is expected to expand across Android, iOS and the web, reinforcing Google’s ambition to make AI a central layer across smartphones, apps and online services.
One of the most important smartphone-related announcements was the expansion of AI Studio into Android app creation. Google said users will be able to generate native Android apps through AI prompts, preview them in an embedded Android emulator and install them on real devices. The feature is initially aimed at personal utility apps, sensor-based phone experiences and AI-powered applications using Gemini’s API.
The implications are significant for both consumers and developers. For users, smartphones may become less dependent on manually opening apps and more centered around AI-driven commands. For developers, the barrier to creating simple Android applications could fall sharply, though Google says apps will still need to meet Play Store quality and review standards before publication.
The announcement also intensifies competition with OpenAI, Apple, Samsung and other companies racing to define the next generation of mobile AI. Samsung has already said it plans to double the number of mobile devices with Galaxy AI features to 800 million in 2026, many of them powered in part by Google’s Gemini technology.
For Google, the message is clear: Search, Android and Gemini are no longer separate products, but pieces of a larger AI ecosystem. The company is betting that the future of technology will be built around assistants capable of understanding context, operating across apps and completing tasks with minimal user input.
The challenge will be trust. As AI moves from answering questions to taking action, users will need confidence that these systems are accurate, secure and transparent. But if Google succeeds, the smartphone may soon feel less like a collection of apps and more like a personal operating layer powered by artificial intelligence.
