Editorial illustration for Gemini task automation: slow, clunky yet impressively handles clarification
Gemini AI Automates Tasks: Smart but Sluggish Workflow
Gemini task automation: slow, clunky yet impressively handles clarification
Gemini’s new task‑automation feature promises to turn everyday requests—like ordering dinner or setting a reminder—into a conversational flow. In early trials the model can parse multi‑step instructions, pull in calendar data, and even draft emails without a single click. Yet the system’s speed leaves something to be desired; responses lag behind the snappy interactions users expect from voice assistants.
More striking, however, is Gemini’s willingness to pause and ask follow‑up questions when its internal map of a user’s world doesn’t line up with the phrasing supplied. The model might flag a mismatch between “plate” and “combo” on a menu, or seek clarification when “slaw” is used instead of “shredded cabbage.” That habit of seeking confirmation feels both cautious and cumbersome, prompting a broader question about utility. Does a bot that stops to verify every nuance end up behaving like the digital helpers we’ve relied on for the past ten years, or does it carve out a new space for more precise, if slower, assistance?
If the computer is going to get tripped up and ask for clarification when you forget that the restaurant calls your meal a "plate" and not a "combo," or if you ask for "slaw" instead of "shredded cabbage," then it's no more useful than the assistants we've been using for the past decade to set timers and play music. That said, watching Gemini tap and scroll around Uber Eats makes one thing painfully obvious: If you were designing an application for AI to use, it would look nothing like the ones we have today.
Gemini’s new task automation feels more like a demo than a finished product. On the Pixel 10 Pro and Galaxy S26 Ultra it manages to launch a handful of food‑delivery and rideshare apps, but the process is sluggish and often requires the user to intervene. When the system misinterprets a menu term—calling a “plate” a “combo,” or confusing “slaw” with “shredded cabbage”—it pauses for clarification, echoing the behavior of older assistants.
If the computer asks for clarification over a minor naming difference, its usefulness mirrors that of assistants we’ve relied on for a decade. The beta‑stage limitation to a small subset of services means it doesn’t yet solve any pressing mobile‑use problem. Still, the ability to hand over a simple ordering task to an AI, even imperfectly, is noteworthy.
The beta tag signals that Google expects further refinement before broader rollout. Whether this approach will scale to broader, more reliable interactions remains uncertain. For now, the feature is impressive but hampered by latency and occasional misunderstandings, leaving users to weigh novelty against practical utility.
A glimpse, perhaps.
Further Reading
- Gemini can now automate some multi-step tasks on Android - TechCrunch
- Google Expands Gemini Task Automation to Pixel 10 Series After Galaxy S26 Debut - The Hans India
- Gemini rolls out Android app automation on Galaxy S26 - 9to5Google
- First the Galaxy S26 series, now Gemini task automation is rolling out to Pixel 10 - Android Authority
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Common Questions Answered
How does Gemini's task automation handle complex multi-step instructions?
Gemini can parse multi-step instructions and pull in calendar data to complete tasks like ordering food or drafting emails. However, the system is currently slow and often requires user intervention during the process.
What challenges does Gemini face when navigating food delivery apps?
Gemini struggles with precise menu terminology, often getting confused between terms like 'plate' and 'combo' or 'slaw' and 'shredded cabbage'. When encountering these discrepancies, the system pauses to ask for clarification, which can interrupt the task flow.
On which devices has Gemini's task automation been tested?
Gemini's task automation has been tested on the Pixel 10 Pro and Galaxy S26 Ultra, where it can launch food delivery and rideshare apps. Despite being functional, the system's performance is currently described as sluggish and not yet fully refined.