Google Sees Future Smartphones as 'Micromanagement-Free' AI Agents

Google's Android chief Sameer Samat has outlined his vision for how AI will change smartphones. The technology, he says, will allow users to set goals and have their phones accomplish tasks without constant prompting.

The new features on the latest Pixel smartphones are a step in this direction. A light on the back of the Pixel 11 Pro shows when Gemini is processing commands, while a new Android feature called Halo will display an AI agent's progress on a given task later this year.

Google has been planning versions of Android for consumers three years ahead, Samat said, and these features are a window into their prediction for how AI will change smartphones. He envisions users setting goals or articulating what they want to achieve, and then the system is smart enough to do those things for them.

However, growing public unease over AI's social and economic impacts underscores the risks for its future. Google is banking on its vision, though, citing the potential benefits of freeing up users' time.