On the sun platform next to Google HQ’s Android statue, Android ecosystem president Same Samat was stolen. This is not the first time Samat has seen his pixel phone. In fact, on the day of my visit, Samat’s phone was separated by a running man four times. The Theft Detection Lock, which shows the Android 16 extension, is part of a demo: Once you catch Samat’s phone, it locks and displays a message on the lock screen that reads “Theft Detection, Device Automatic Locks”.
Theft detection introduced by Android 15 is one of several new features in Android 16 that focuses on security and assurance. The new operating system has three main pillars: a major UI overhaul called Material 3 Extrandive, support for Gemini on more devices, and security and security tools. CNET sat down for an interview with Samat, and his true passion for Android 16 and what it means to the shine of customers.
“Android 16 is one of the biggest releases we have ever made,” Samat said. “What’s really cool about the release is that it involves a lot of things people are excited about.”
Watch the following: Preview: We can access the new Android 16 features early
Android is the world’s largest operating system, running on over 3 billion active devices. Android 16 marks a major milestone for Google, suggesting that the tech giant’s nearly 17-year-old OS is now as important as it was when it debuted in 2008. In particular, when everyone’s eyes want Google’s Gemini AI tools and services to be the next big thing, Android 16 proves that it can bridge the gap between the tried and true features people expect on their phones. Samat made it clear that he didn’t want AI to replace Android or apps, but would make them more powerful and helpful.
“Apps are still important, but maybe in different ways,” he said. “We have some mundane things in apps today that can help you.
Android 16 Material 3 Expression
Real-time updates and a new way to quickly view notifications are both part of the Android 16 Material 3 expression redesign.
The first thing most people will notice is that Android 16 looks different from previous versions. Everything from the lock screen and home screen to the quick control panel and notification shadows has been overhauled, which Google calls Material 3 Expracer. This is not fundamentally different from the past, but adds a lot of beautiful and dynamic animations that are a pleasant and quirky part.
Android 16 is full of subtle animations like this for volume control.
For example, if you raise the volume to the maximum, you feel the touch, and the volume control on the screen is actually higher than the higher position of its finger to indicate that you can’t increase it any more. You can also easily adjust the tiles in the Quick Control panel from 1×1 to 2×1 by pressing the controls and dragging the side handle bar to the left or right. In fact, when you click on the control, the tiles’ icon will move in a clever way with the reaction.
“When we think about how to design these systems, of course, it’s a practicality,” Samat said. “For us, it’s not only about how it does it, but also about how it makes you feel. All of this involves the feeling of beauty and aesthetics, and they don’t always make sense to people consciously. But when you experience the device, you just feel with joy. That’s what we’re aiming for.”
Android 16 improvements even include mundane things, just like flashing notifications.
A good example of how Samat describes is the new dynamic animation of refreshing notifications. Rohan Shah, senior product manager for Google Android Platform, showed this for me. When he swept the notification, it almost seemed sticky and didn’t want to leave a notification shadow.
“For example, when you have to swipe notifications 40 times a day, it’s a real subtle move, and the notifications around them only create a little resistance.”
This is a new animation that happens when you delete the notification.
Samat said that removing the notification and brushing to the right was never more satisfying. This spring-like action is part of the fluid motion mechanic of Material 3 expression, which has a more natural compliance for items entering and leaving the screen.
The expressiveness of Material 3 also makes Android more listenable from the lock screen, home screen and your app. For example, on the lock screen, the notification you read is hidden in a pill box that displays each app icon. This works in conjunction with the phone’s wallpaper and new real-time updates to follow Google Maps’ instructions directly from the lock screen.
Android 16 brings Gemini to more devices
Android 16 adds Gemini integration to more widgets.
Like Material 3’s expressiveness, Gemini played an important role in Android 16, now the default digital assistant. Samat explained that the choice to replace Google Assistant with Gemini is to make the interaction more intuitive.
“In the past, assistants might have taught us how to talk to them, and you had to speak in a specific way. Now, with the advancement of AI, you can speak naturally and speak with ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’.”
And it’s not limited to mobile phones. Gemini will be on cars, watches, Android XR headsets and even TVs. For wearing an operating system device, Gemini works purely through the cloud, and you need an Internet connection (Wi-Fi, Phone or LTE) to use it.
I had to see Google’s Google TV, Sal Choudhary and Test Gemini’s group product manager on the TV. He just asked Gemini to show us the weather and started a demonstration. Next, he asks it to show us the impossible task: Dead Part 1, and Gemini pulls up the page of the movie. But when Choudhury asks Gemini, things get interesting, “Which mission is the best one?”
Gemini replied: “It’s an interesting debate. Many fans think the impossible task is impossible: Consequences are a prominent figure in its incredible action sequences and engaging story. Others may fight for the original mission because of its suspense and classic spy feeling that is impossible.
Google announced that Wear OS will support Gemini.
Apparently, integrating Gemini into so many devices opens more doors for it to be used in more forms – such as Android XR headsets and Gemini-Paper glasses that Samat laughs at. He noted that Gemini can not only understand what you say and what you are on the screen, but also use the camera to give you more information about the world around you. Glasses allow you to see a monitor that no one else can see, and a frame with a built-in camera allows Gemini to see the world like you do. I think we might hear more about glasses and how Gemini can adapt to Android XR in a Google I/O keynote on May 20.
Having Gemini in more places is only as good as the information it gives you. If Gemini’s response is inaccurate or completely wrong, it can reveal a novel usage, such as glasses. Admittedly, Samat acknowledged this pain point with AI.
“AI certainly does have situations that make things right,” he said. “I think what’s important here is [for the user] Understand the context. So, using AI as part of Google Search will be a very important area of factual information and the search team works very hard to make sure they do it. In other cases, like we’re talking about identifying images and describing images, AI can do its best, actually adjusting it to do a good job and giving consumers your disclaimer, for example, if you need to make a critical decision, you might want to double check it, for example, before buying. ”
Samat also shared that Google found that people would rather access such AI, and in some cases, they might need to understand that there are limitations.
Android 16 scam detection
Android 16’s scam detection feature prevents you from sharing personal information with strangers when sending messages.
One of the most influential new features in Android 16 is SCAM detection, which alerts you that scams may occur when using the Google Messages app. Scam detection uses specially tuned device models to understand when a specific message or thread may cause you to disclose personal information. It works when you have a conversation with someone who is not in your contacts.
“We did take an AI model of a device, and we have helped train many different schemes to make the situation bad, what might be wrong here. We have tested the millions of possibilities for these scams we’ve seen. ”
Android users will also help keep scam detection up to date. Whenever a person reports a scam, Google can use the information to develop the feature over time.
Android 16 Final Thoughts
A Behind the Scenes Watch My Android 16 interview with Google Sameer Samat.
Talking to Samat was an insightful time. The way he sees the future of Android and Gemini really makes me full of hope, all of which leads to a better world. Android 16 does feel like one of the more important releases over the years. And we just talked about some top features. Android 16 has more tools, utilities and updates – for a more in-depth look, check it out CNET’s Android 16 Interpreter.
Android 16 is scheduled to be released in June, with Wear OS scheduled to be released later this summer. I look forward to testing both and seeing how people react to new tools and features.
