Latest AI Assistant Features and Updates: Top Apps and New Tools

AI assistants are changing fast. They no longer just answer questions. They act on your behalf. Latest AI assistant features and updates show a clear shift toward proactive agents. Anthropic launched Claude Duet, which keeps working even when your device is off.

Google added scheduled actions and quiz generation to Gemini. Samsung's Galaxy S26 brings agentic AI that completes tasks across apps with one voice command. ChatGPT still leads the top apps, but Claude climbed to third on the web. On Android, setting up Gemini takes minutes. This article covers the newest features, the top apps, and how to use AI on your phone.

The Big Shift: From Reactive to Proactive

For the past two years, AI assistants waited for prompts. You asked, they answered. That is changing.

The new wave is proactive agents. They come to you with what needs attention. They complete tasks you ask of them. They keep working even when you step away. And they check with you before acting on your behalf .

Three major launches define this shift:

• Claude Duet (Anthropic) runs on a browser-equipped virtual machine. It can continue working when your phone or laptop is switched off. It handles scheduling, financial forecasts, and even building web applications. It requires user approval before sending messages, making payments, or deleting information .
• Meta's Muse and OpenAI's Dots launched in September. They compete in the same proactive assistant space .
• Samsung Galaxy S26 brings agentic AI to phones. You press the power button and speak a command. The phone completes multi-step actions across apps. For example: "Find a few business-appropriate Italian restaurants with outdoor seating nearby and text them to Luca" .

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Latest Gemini Features and Updates

Gemini is Google's AI assistant, and it received several major updates in October 2026.

Scheduled Actions

• Gemini can now plan future tasks in advance. You can set recurring actions or one-time tasks. Examples: get a daily briefing of calendar, to-do list, and unread emails. Or request a summary of a keynote the morning after it happens. Gemini handles it automatically .
• Scheduled actions are available for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, and eligible Workspace business and education plans .

Personalized Quizzes

Gemini can generate custom quizzes from PDFs or class notes. You get hints, explanations for right and wrong answers, and a summary highlighting strong and weak areas. Available for users over 18 and eligible Workspace education plans .

Canvas Creation Menu

The new Create menu in Canvas turns text into dynamic content: custom web pages, infographics, quizzes, and audio overviews. You can also build functional apps with vibe coding. Canvas saves data between sessions and shares it across users. If there are errors, Canvas tries to fix them automatically .

Gemini in Chrome

Gemini is coming to Chrome as a personal AI assistant for the web. You can talk or type to understand complex topics, brainstorm, or compare details in the context of the page you are on, without switching tabs. Rolling out to Windows and macOS for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the US first .

Gemini Live

Gemini Live lets you talk to Gemini out loud in a real-time, back-and-forth conversation. You can interrupt to change direction. It is useful for brainstorming out loud, discussing images or videos, or sharing your screen and camera for a natural conversation .

Top 5 AI Apps in the World

Andreessen Horowitz publishes a ranking of the top 100 consumer AI apps twice a year. The latest edition, based on August 2026 data, shows ChatGPT still far ahead. But Claude climbed to third place on the web, overtaking DeepSeek and Perplexity .

Web Rankings

1. ChatGPT — OpenAI's chatbot dominates with roughly twice the web traffic of Gemini and six times that of Claude.
2. Gemini — Google's assistant. Strong integration with Google services .
3. Claude — Anthropic's assistant. Now third on the web, ahead of DeepSeek and Perplexity .
4. DeepSeek — Chinese AI chatbot .
5. Perplexity — AI search engine with citations .

Mobile Rankings

The mobile list is different because it includes apps with AI features, not just pure chatbots.

1. ChatGPT — Still first .
2. CapCut — Video editing app with AI features .
3. Gemini — Google's assistant .
4. Canva — Design app with AI tools .
5. AI Gallery — AI photo app .

Yandex with Alice entered the top 15 globally, ranking 13th and beating DeepSeek, Grok, and Perplexity in monthly active users.

How to Use AI on Android Phone?

If you have an Android phone, you already have access to powerful AI assistants. Here is how to get started.

Set Up Gemini

Gemini comes pre-downloaded on some devices. If not, download it from the Play Store. You need a Google Account and a device with 2GB of RAM or more, running Android 10 and up .

To activate Gemini:

• Long-press the power button on most Android phones .
• Or find the Gemini app icon on your home screen or app drawer.

Chat with Gemini

There are several ways to interact:

• Type: Use the on-screen keyboard and tap Send.
• Speak: Tap the microphone and say your question.
• Share images: Tap the plus (+) button to add a photo or file.
• Screen context: Long-press the power button over an image, article, or video. An "Ask about screen" button appears. Tap it and add your question .

Use Gemini Live

Open the Gemini app and press the Live icon on the far right of the prompt box. Start talking. You can interrupt it to change the conversation. You can also share your screen or camera for a live conversation .

Try Offline AI with AI Edge Gallery

If you want AI without sending data to the cloud, Google's AI Edge Gallery lets you run models locally on your phone. Download the app, pick a model like Gemma, and chat in airplane mode. The app handles text, images, and audio transcription entirely on your device .

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Latest AI Assistant Features and Updates on GitHub

If you are a developer, GitHub has open-source AI assistant projects worth exploring.

Meridian

An open-source Android command deck for Termux. It includes a local AI agent mesh using llama.cpp, a voice assistant, and support for up to 32 OpenAI-compatible providers. No account, no server, no paywall. MIT licensed.

Super Agent

A multi-model AI assistant built to run on low-end hardware (2014 PC with 4-8GB RAM, no GPU). Features include long-term memory, document RAG, auto-skill capture, background job queue, and offline Whisper transcription. Uses free APIs only .

LIVA

A Windows AI assistant with a local installer. The repository includes architecture docs and setup guides .

The Bottom Line

AI assistants are becoming agents. They no longer just answer questions. They work for you. Claude Duet runs tasks while your device is off. Gemini schedules actions and builds apps in Canvas. Samsung's Galaxy S26 completes multi-step commands across apps.

The top apps remain ChatGPT and Gemini, with Claude climbing fast. On Android, setting up Gemini takes minutes. For privacy, AI Edge Gallery runs models locally. For developers, GitHub has open-source assistants worth exploring.

The shift is clear. Assistants are moving from reactive to proactive. They check with you before acting. But they act. That changes what your phone can do for you.

FAQs

1. What is Claude Duet?

Anthropic's proactive AI agent. It runs on a virtual machine in the browser, so it keeps working even when your device is off. It handles scheduling, financial forecasts, and app building. It requires approval before sending messages or making payments .

2. What are the top 5 AI apps in the world?

ChatGPT is first by a wide margin. Gemini is second. Claude is third on the web. DeepSeek and Perplexity round out the web top five. On mobile, CapCut and Canva rank high because of their AI features .

3. How do I use Gemini on my Android phone?

Long-press the power button or open the Gemini app. You can type, speak, share images, or ask about what is on your screen. Gemini Live lets you have a real-time voice conversation .

4. What are Gemini's scheduled actions?

You can set Gemini to perform tasks automatically at set times. Daily briefings, weekly summaries, one-time reminders. It handles them without you asking again .

5. Can I use AI offline on Android?

Yes. Google AI Edge Gallery lets you download models like Gemma and run them locally. Chat, image analysis, and audio transcription work in airplane mode. Your data stays on your phone .

6. What is the latest AI assistant update from Samsung?

The Galaxy S26 series brings agentic AI. You press the power button and speak a command. The phone completes multi-step tasks across apps, like finding restaurants and texting a contact .

7. Are there open-source AI assistants on GitHub?

Yes. Meridian is an Android command deck with a local AI mesh. Super Agent is a multi-model assistant for low-end hardware. Both are free and open source .

8. What is the difference between reactive and proactive AI?

Reactive AI waits for your prompt. Proactive AI comes to you with what needs attention, completes tasks on its own, and checks in before acting. Claude Duet, Meta Muse, and Samsung's Galaxy AI are examples of the proactive shift .