Google's Gemini AI assistant has launched agentic task automation on Samsung's Galaxy S26 series, allowing the AI to control Android apps and perform tasks like ordering food on behalf of users. The feature represents a significant expansion of AI assistant capabilities beyond voice commands and text responses. Separately, Google announced Chrome browser support for ARM64 Linux devices arriving in Q2 2026.
The developments highlight the intensifying competition in AI automation as tech giants race to create more autonomous AI systems. Google's app control feature positions Gemini as a direct competitor to emerging AI agent platforms, while the ARM64 Linux Chrome support expands Google's reach across diverse computing architectures.
xAI, Elon Musk's AI company, hired senior executives Andrew Milich and Jason Ginsberg from coding AI startup Cursor as part of its push into AI-assisted programming. Musk stated he expects xAI to match competitors in coding capabilities by mid-2026, signaling aggressive expansion plans for the company.
These moves suggest 2026 could see major shifts in AI assistant functionality and market positioning. Google's agent capabilities may drive increased Android adoption, while xAI's coding focus could challenge established players like GitHub Copilot and OpenAI's coding models. The hiring of Cursor leadership indicates xAI is prioritizing developer tools as a key growth area.