The Buzz
- Google’s Pixel 10 series now features Agentic AI, letting Gemini autonomously complete tasks in apps like Uber and Grubhub.
- Gemini operates in the background, so users can continue using their phones while intervening or halting its actions at any time.
- Previously previewed at the Samsung Unpacked event last week, the feature is now rolling out on the Pixel 10, 10 Pro, and 10 Pro XL. It marks a significant shift from reactive AI assistants to proactive assistants capable of managing multi-step tasks.
Google has finally delivered on a long-standing AI industry promise: an assistant that actually gets things done for you. With the March Pixel update, the Pixel 10 lineup now includes Agentic AI features, so Gemini can book rides, order food, and handle errands. While you do other things, Google has talked about this kind of integrated computing since the early days of the Assistant, and now it might really work.
Google is betting that people want AI to do more than just answer questions. They want help with their to-do lists. Gemini can now work independently in supported apps, handling tasks such as ordering groceries and booking rides without constant guidance.
This feature is a leap from traditional voice assistants. Just tell Gemini to order your usual from Grubhub or book you an Uber home, and it handles the rest in the background while you continue using your phone.
The Pixel 10 series is the first to receive this agentic AI, starting with Uber and Grubhub.
What makes this different from earlier assistants is the way supervision works. Google has added safeguards that let users watch or pause Gemini’s actions at any time, which helps build trust in autonomous AI. You are not giving up all control; you are just setting up the AI to help while you monitor this. This strategic launch positions Google to lead as AI competition evolves from simple chatbots to agentic platforms. By responding to industry developments, Google differentiates itself with full integration across its hardware, software, and AI stack. This unified control could give Google a strong advantage over competitors who rely on third-party devices, potentially reinforcing the Pixel as the environment where its most advanced AI capabilities first emerge.
The small number of supported apps shows that agentic AI has a long way to go. Uber and Grubhub are helpful, but most people use many different apps for daily tasks. Google is starting with partners where it can guarantee things to work well, but the real challenge will be adding support for email, calendars, and more complex tasks across multiple devices. This move is part of Google’s product strategy to give Pixel users early access to advanced AI, differentiating its smartphones in a saturated market. By leading with AI-driven features, Google aims to shift the competitive focus from hardware specs to user experience. This approach follows models set by other industry leaders, but if successful, it could reset consumer expectations of what AI on smartphones should deliver and force rivals to innovate their own solutions.
Privacy is an important issue here, too. For Gemini to order groceries or book rides, it needs access to your app data, payment details, and personal preferences. Google has to balance making the AI useful with protecting privacy, especially as regulators pay more attention to how AI handles data.
Official responses from Pixel users show cautious optimism, having experienced the limits of previous assistants. Many hope that Gemini will fulfill AI’s promise, but skepticism lingers. Google’s history includes ambitious features that vanished after lukewarm adoption.
This is clear Google sees Agentic AI as the next big thing. The company isn’t just making a better assistant; it is trying to change how people use their phones. Whether users really want an AI to handle their errands is still uncertain, but Google’s investment in Google’s Agentic AI rollout is a strategic test for the next era of smartphone assistants, gauging whether users will embrace proactive AI or view it as another fleeting trend. The Pixel-first, limited-app launch allows Google to refine Gemini and gather feedback as it builds a robust digital assistant. Success could position Google as the leader in practical AI-powered devices; failure could risk eroding consumer trust in new features.
