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Google’s 2026 Android Show gave us some early news ahead of next week’s big I/O event. It included several updates centered on deeper AI integration, a new kind of laptop that’s not a Chromebook and some security overhauls.
The Googlebook will be a new category of premium laptops built for Gemini. That includes a multicolor “glowbar” and a Magic Pointer—a redesigned cursor that can work as a contextual AI shortcut. (Gemini is here and you will use it.)This isn’t a renamed Pixelbook, however. Google won’t directly make the laptops; the first will come from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo this fall.
Google will be calling all its advanced AI features Gemini Intelligence, with the official rebrand landing this summer on the Pixel 10 and Galaxy S26. This includes app automation: Gemini will be able to perform multi-step tasks across apps, like pulling info from an email to build a shopping cart or booking a taxi.
A new built-in tool (coming to Pixel first) will let creators record themselves and their screen simultaneously for “reaction” videos sans green screen.
Security and privacy updates include automatically identifying and ending calls from spoofed numbers impersonating banks. At the same time, the Mark as Lost feature now requires a biometric unlock (fingerprint) for anyone who finds the device. On-device AI will also attempt to flag apps that abuse permissions or hide icons.
Some interoperability features are on their way, too, including a rebuilt iOS-to-Android transfer process that handles it all wirelessly and even preserves your home screen layouts from Apple to… whichever Android phone you’ve decided to leap to. Meanwhile, Android Auto is getting a modern Material 3 design to better match your phone, with edge-to-edge Google Map views and more Gemini hooks.
Phew, this wasn’t even Google I/O. What else does the company have up its sleeve?
– Mat Smith
The biggest stories you might have missed
Motorola Razr Fold review
Motorola’s been cooking up foldables for a few years, but they’ve all been in the Razr flip-phone form factor. Until now. The Razr Fold has incredibly bright screens (7,000 nits!), support for its own stylus and decent cameras. Watch out, Pixel Fold and Galaxy Fold: you’ve got company.
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Instagram attempts disappearing photo apps (again) with Instants
Bolt walked so that Instants could run. Instagram is making another attempt at the ephemeral photo format, available both as a standalone app and as a feature within the main app. You can access Instants from your DM inbox by tapping on the photo stack in the bottom right corner. The only way you can modify Instants is by adding a caption. There are no editing tools or filters here. It’s, well, instant. You can choose who you want to share one of these photos with (either close friends or mutuals) and send it. There’s an undo button if you screw up.
If your Instagram notifications are already clogged with blurry Instants from confused users, you can dig into the Instagram app’s settings and turn off Instants — which I’ve already done.
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People are willing to watch Netflix with ads
Netflix has more than 250 million monthly active users on its ad-supported tier. It’s a jump. In 2024, the plan with ads had 70 million users and in 2025, it reached 94 million. Netflix now plans to also launch the ad-supported plan in 15 more countries.
How many ads will users stomach for that incoming AI-generated content?
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