Android 17 Rolls Out With Bubbles, Gemini AI, New Security Tools

Google started pushing Android 17 to Pixel phones Tuesday and said the update will reach other eligible devices through 2026. The company also plans to add Gemini Intelligence to select advanced phones later this summer.

One new feature, Bubbles, turns any app into a floating window on the screen. "Handy for travel, entertainment and work, Bubbles lets you easily reference notes or maps, watch tutorials or even check sports," Seang Chau, vice president and general manager of Android Platform at Google, said in a blog post. "It keeps everything you need in reach but out of the way."

A Screen Reactions feature records the user's face via the selfie camera while capturing the phone screen. Chau said users can "add your thoughts and reactions over sites, apps and trending videos without the need for a green screen and switching between apps."

Foldable devices get a gaming mode with a 50/50 layout: game view on top, game pad below. Chau said the design will "maximize the view and button-mashing spaces."

Security changes let users grant temporary precise location access, share specific contacts instead of the full address book, and lock a lost phone with biometrics. Google said the update also blocks more suspicious apps and scams, protects against sophisticated threats, and limits PIN-guess attempts.

Google first showed Android 17 with Gemini Intelligence in May. The company said then that Gemini would roll out in waves starting with the latest Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones this summer, then expand to watches, cars, glasses and laptops later in 2026.

The Android 17 rollout follows Apple's June 8 introduction of a Siri overhaul, the assistant upgrade Apple has been promising since 2024. The new Siri aims to shift Apple's position in the AI race.