Google updates its Gemini app to take on ChatGPT and Claude at IO 2026

At the annual Google I/O conference on Tuesday, Google unveiled significant updates to its Gemini app, aiming to enhance its capabilities as a comprehensive AI tool. These enhancements include an innovative feature called Daily Brief, a refreshed user interface, the introduction of a new AI video model named Gemini Omni, and a personal AI assistant dubbed Gemini Spark. This strategic move is designed to elevate Gemini beyond a simple chatbot and position it as a formidable competitor to established apps like ChatGPT and Claude. The Daily Brief feature is described as a tailored digest that serves as the user’s morning go-to. It aggregates information from various sources, including the user's inbox, calendar, and key tasks, presenting it in a well-organized summary. Not only does Daily Brief provide a recap, but it also prioritizes tasks and recommends next steps, ensuring that the most crucial items are highlighted first. This feature is rolling out to Google AI subscribers in the U.S. starting today. The Gemini app already boasts impressive statistics, with over 900 million monthly users across more than 230 countries and support in over 70 languages. However, Google is clearly aiming for further growth while retaining its current user base. To achieve this, the app has undergone a complete redesign, introducing a new aesthetic labeled "Neural Expressive." This fresh design features fluid animations, vibrant colors, and improved typography, along with haptic feedback for a more engaging user experience. In a departure from the conventional presentation of AI responses, which often resembles a dense block of text, Gemini now showcases key information prominently in bold at the top, with supplementary content such as images and timelines available as users scroll. Gemini Spark is another exciting addition, functioning as a personal AI agent available around the clock to assist users in managing their digital lives. This cloud-based assistant operates seamlessly in the background, even when the user’s device is locked, effectively transforming Gemini into a proactive partner that can undertake tasks autonomously. Currently in testing, Spark is anticipated to be available to Google AI Ultra subscribers next week, allowing users to develop bespoke workflows. Additionally, the new Gemini Omni video model combines the capabilities of Gemini with Google's generative media technologies, enabling users to create high-quality videos from simple prompts. For instance, users can input a request for a "claymation explainer of protein folding," and the model facilitates the generation of cohesive video content by allowing the upload of audio, images, and video. With the introduction of the Gemini Omni model, Google is intensifying its competition in the AI sector, particularly in the burgeoning field of multimodal content generation. This model will soon be accessible on platforms like Google Flow and YouTube Shorts for Google AI subscribers, highlighting Google's commitment to advancing AI-driven video tools and multimodal content creation.