Can your phone's AI assistant do things in your apps for you?
Short answer
Increasingly. Gemini can run routine tasks like ordering groceries or booking a taxi in the background on Pixel 11 and Galaxy S26, and Siri AI on iPhone 17 acts in apps like Messages and Music.
Which products can do it?
- Samsung Galaxy S26Yes
Galaxy S26 offers Gemini and Perplexity alongside Bixby and can handle multi-step tasks in the background, such as booking a taxi with Gemini after you review the details.
Good to know: Maker's description; features vary by region and language.
- Google Pixel 11Yes
On Pixel 11, Gemini Intelligence can take on routine tasks such as ordering groceries or booking a ride, working with your apps in the background while you can view or end the task.
Good to know: Maker's description; supported apps not listed here.
- Apple iPhone 17Yes
Siri AI on iPhone 17 can take actions in apps like Messages, Music and Reminders, such as editing a message you just sent.
Good to know: Rolling out in English.
Why it matters
Tapping through several apps for a small errand is exactly what people hope an AI assistant will take off their hands.
Not proven yet
Which apps each assistant supports and how reliably it finishes tasks; no independent hands-on comparison in our sources.
How we know (4 sources)
Samsung's US launch release for the Galaxy S26 series: seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates from global launch. Alongside Bixby, it offers agents including Gemini and Perplexity, and can handle multi-step tasks in the background, such as booking a taxi with Gemini. AI-powered Call Screening identifies unknown callers and summarizes why they called (needs manual activation; languages vary). General availability from March 11, 2026.
Read the sourceGoogle Store page for Pixel 11 (read Oct 23, 2026): 7 years of OS and security updates; 30+ hours of battery life. Gemini Intelligence can take on routine tasks such as ordering groceries or booking a ride, working with your apps in the background while you can view or end the task. Phone calls are translated in real time in the caller's own voice (select countries and languages). Edits in Google Photos just by asking for them. Call Screen handles unknown callers and Scam Detection warns about likely fraud in calls and messages (select countries; not 100% accurate).
Read the sourceUS Galaxy S26 and S26+ page (read Oct 23, 2026): from $899.99 before trade-in. Photo Assist edits photos from a text description and marks the result as AI-generated. Galaxy S26 has a 4300 mAh battery rated at 30 hours of video playback (S26+ 31 hours). Bixby understands natural-language requests to change device settings or search the web.
Read the sourceiPhone 17 overview and specs (read Oct 23, 2026): Siri AI, powered by Apple Intelligence, answers open-ended questions and takes actions in apps like Messages, Music and Reminders (rolling out in English). Live Translation in Phone and FaceTime works for one-on-one calls in listed languages. Up to 30 hours of video playback (27 streamed); 10 minutes of charging gives up to 8 hours of video with a high-wattage adapter.
Read the source
Status timeline
No status has changed since we started tracking. Every entry is dated and backed by the sources on this page.
- First recorded: In storesSamsung Galaxy S26
Bixby on Galaxy S26 understands natural-language requests to change device settings or do a quick web search.
- First recorded: In storesApple iPhone 17
Siri AI on iPhone 17 can take actions in apps like Messages, Music and Reminders, such as editing a message you just sent.
- First recorded: In storesGoogle Pixel 11
On Pixel 11, Gemini Intelligence can take on routine tasks such as ordering groceries or booking a ride, working with your apps in the background while you can view or end the task.