In July 2026, alongside Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked 2026 launch event in London, Google showcased new features for its Gemini AI assistant[1]. The headline is that task automation—handling everyday errands on your behalf—now works across more than 40 apps. Google also announced that its research app comes preinstalled and that Gemini is expanding to smartwatches and smart glasses.

Task Automation Expands to 40-Plus Apps

At the center of the announcement is a new framework Google calls "Gemini Intelligence." Positioned as AI that acts proactively on your behalf, its first set of capabilities ships on the Samsung foldables unveiled at the event—the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and Galaxy Z Flip8[1].

The standout is the expansion of task automation. In February 2026, Google introduced a beta that let you hand simple errands to Gemini, such as booking a rideshare or ordering takeout from a favorite restaurant[1]. At the time it covered only a handful of apps like rideshare and delivery, and supported devices were limited to the Pixel 10 and Galaxy S26 series[2].

Now the feature expands to more than 40 popular apps[1][2]. From shopping and dinner reservations to booking travel experiences and buying event tickets, Gemini can take on more of your daily "life admin." On the Galaxy Z Flip8, you can even summon it straight from the Flex Window on the cover display by long-pressing the power button[1].

Gemini can also use advanced reasoning to read what is on your screen and interpret complex images as prompts directly. You can simply show it a shopping list or a photo for inspiration to convey what you want done[1]. While it works, you can follow the progress on screen and use other apps, or close the phone and let Gemini run in the background. You can step in to handle a specific detail yourself and then hand control back, and Gemini notifies you when the task is ready for your review and final confirmation[1].

The design that keeps the user in control after delegating a task suggests a focus on practical usability. That said, how far such features—running autonomously across apps—can be trusted in daily life is something only real-world use will reveal.

Gemini Notebook Comes Preinstalled, With a Six-Month Free Trial

The second update is the preinstallation of "Gemini Notebook," which helps you read through materials and organize information. Formerly known as "NotebookLM," the app comes preinstalled on Samsung's new foldables[1].

Gemini Notebook is a thinking and research partner built on multimodal models. On the expansive display of the Galaxy Z Fold8 series, you can drag and drop photos, documents, whiteboard captures, voice memos, and more into a side-by-side workspace. Beyond asking questions about your sources via chat, you can create study materials tailored to how you learn—slide decks, videos, flash cards, quizzes, and even podcast-style audio[1].

Google is also including a six-month free trial of the paid "Google AI Pro" plan on every Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and Galaxy Z Flip8, letting you try features such as Audio Overviews, Video Overviews, and slide generation[1]. In Japan, Google AI Pro normally costs 2,900 yen per month, so a six-month trial is a meaningful perk[3].

Gemini Reaches Smartwatches and Fall-Bound Smart Glasses

The third update is Gemini's expansion beyond smartphones. Google says its collaboration with Samsung now extends past phones[1].

On the Galaxy Watch 9 smartwatch, Gemini launches simply by raising your wrist—no wake word required—so you can call it up easily on the move[1].

The other frontier is smart glasses. At Google I/O 2026, Google previewed intelligent eyewear co-developed with Samsung, slated for this fall, and showed two designs from eyewear brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. This time it revealed two more frames and detailed how Gemini will be useful on these devices. For example, if you are wearing a compatible Wear OS watch, you will be able to control the glasses with just a hand gesture[1].

Summary

What Google showed at Galaxy Unpacked 2026 is a push to move Gemini from an "AI that answers when asked" toward an "AI that gets things done before you ask." Task automation across 40-plus apps, the preinstalled Gemini Notebook for research, and the expansion to watches and glasses are the concrete shape of that vision. All of these are set to roll out gradually, so the features will fill in over time. How they perform in actual use—and where they go next—will be worth watching.

Source: https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/platforms/android/galaxy-unpacked-2026/

Source: https://9to5google.com/2026/07/22/gemini-task-automation-samsung/

Source: https://www.itmedia.co.jp/aiplus/articles/2512/24/news121.html