Google and Samsung Debut Agentic Gemini Features on Galaxy S26 That Apple Still Cannot Match With Siri
At Samsung's Galaxy S26 Unpacked event, Google demonstrated Gemini's ability to autonomously complete multi-step tasks — like analyzing group chats and ordering food through apps — a capability Apple promised for Siri in 2024 but has yet to ship.
Google and Samsung jointly unveiled agentic capabilities for the Gemini AI assistant on Tuesday at Samsung's Galaxy S26 launch event, demonstrating that Gemini can now handle complex multi-step tasks on Android devices — including analyzing conversational contexts, making decisions, and acting through third-party apps autonomously. The features will initially be available on the newly announced Galaxy S26 series, along with Google's Pixel and Pixel 10 Pro devices.
A demonstration led by Sameer Samat, Google's president of Android, showed Gemini analyzing a hectic family group chat, determining pizza order preferences from the conversation, navigating to a delivery application, preparing the order, and presenting it for review before submission. Gemini can also complete the order via voice command specifying a restaurant.
The feature set represents a meaningful step beyond existing chatbot behavior into what AI researchers call agentic function — taking actions on behalf of users in real-world applications.
The announcement drew immediate comparisons to Apple's promises for Siri, which were announced at Apple's 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference and demonstrated to significant fanfare. Apple subsequently delayed those features in March 2025, retracted an advertisement showcasing them, and according to Bloomberg reporting, some capabilities may not arrive until iOS 27.
Google's decision to launch on Galaxy S26 devices — Samsung being the world's largest smartphone maker by volume — means the features will have broad distribution from day one.
The Verge noted that significant uncertainties remain: Gemini's agentic features are launching in beta, implementation quality in real-world conditions is untested at scale, and developer adoption will determine whether Gemini can navigate users' apps of choice or be limited to a small set of pre-integrated partners. Google has described the current launch as limited to "select rideshare and food apps." Nonetheless, the side-by-side with Apple's continued delays gives Google a notable competitive advantage in the race to build AI assistants that can take meaningful action in the physical and digital world.
Read the original reporting at The Verge.
