UPDATED 13:45 EDT / MAY 19 2026

AI

Google’s new Gemini Spark is an always-on AI agent for daily digital tasks

Entering into the artificial intelligence agent era, Google LLC today introduced Gemini Spark, a 24/7 personal AI assistant that can help people navigate their digital lives and do real work on their behalf. 

Under the hood, Spark runs on the newly released Gemini 3.5 Flash and uses the company’s updated Antigravity platform to orchestrate AI agents. It’s deeply integrated into the company’s ecosystem of products that users interact with daily, including Gmail, Docs, Slides and more — allowing the agents to find information, understand context, learn personalized daily routines and help users catch up. 

Most importantly, Spark continues working in the background even while the user wanders away from their laptop or phone. They can set it up like a digital secretary to take complex goals off their plate and handle tasks such as cleaning up their inbox, searching for information and keeping a lookout for things that might otherwise get lost in the noise. 

With Spark, users can set triggers, such as monitoring credit card statements to warn about new subscription fees or hidden costs. Users could also direct the agent to watch their inbox for ongoing updates from their work or daily life, helping them stay up to date on colleagues, critical deadlines or creating a daily digest so they can remain on task.  

Users can even have the agent compile raw meeting notes across emails and chats, allowing them to “stay in the know” by generating Docs files with its findings and drafting companion emails when starting projects. 

Google said this is only the beginning for Spark. Right now, the assistant connects to the company’s ecosystem, but it will soon ship with third-party connectors. Model Context Protocol connections to Canva, OpenTable and Instacart launch today, and Google said more third-party partners will be announced in the coming weeks. 

New abilities for Spark are also planned, including texting and emailing Spark, creating custom sub-agents and operating the local browser. 

Spark is a powerful agentic assistant, so Google said users will remain in full control. They pick when to turn it on and what apps it can connect with, and it is designed to ask before performing high-stakes actions such as spending money or sending emails. 

Gemini app gets a glow-up

Google redesigned its Gemini experience and Gemini app to be more intuitive with a new design language the company is calling “Neural Expressive,” featuring fluid animations, vivid colors and touch feedback. 

According to the company, the new visuals are designed to be flowing and visually pleasing so users can see that the interface is “thinking” and engage with it. 

The app and interface now directly integrate Gemini Live, the voice-based conversational capability. This will allow users to easily switch between text and voice, quickly going from typing long-form questions into Gemini’s interface to asking a quick question in a back-and-forth voice conversation — and then going back again. 

Google said this change will allow users to approach ideas and conversations with Gemini at their own pace, depending on how they need to express their needs, without being cut off mid-thought. 

To foster better responses, the company added that it is using the newest model architectures to better understand conversation. For example, instead of throwing an entire wall of text at users each time, Gemini will judge whether to be long-winded, offer a short reply or incorporate rich imagery, interactive timelines, narrated videos and dynamic graphics. 

Users can also opt into a Daily Brief. Once they do, an agent will brief them with a personalized morning digest designed to be the first stop based on their inbox, calendar, search and other preferences. It will act as a critical update on their day and what someone should know about anything upcoming — it will go beyond a simple summary, organizing and prioritizing based on specific goals, even suggesting immediate next steps. Users will also be able to steer its behavior with a quick thumbs-up or thumbs-down.

Google said it has big plans in particular for the macOS Gemini desktop app. The company intends to bring Spark to the app, where it will be able to handle complex tasks with local files on the desktop, similar to how Anthropic PBC’s Claude Cowork operates, and automate work. 

The company also said it’s innovating the desktop app’s voice experience. Users do not need to worry about “ums,” “ahs” and “how abouts” when thinking aloud. They can just narrate, and using context on the screen, Gemini will take free-flowing speech and turn it into precise drafts, instantly reformatting even scattered thoughts to capture intent right where the cursor is. 

This new interactive design is rolling out across the web, Android and iOS today. Daily Brief is available for Google AI Plus subscribers and above. The macOS app is also available for download for all users, with Gemini Spark and the new voice features set to arrive this summer. Gemini Spark will arrive first to trusted testers this week and then as a beta for U.S. Google AI Ultra subscribers next week.

 Image: Google

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