Google releases Android 17 with new AI features including music generation and video editing, while expanding Gemini's role across its device ecosystem.

What happened: Google released Android 17 and Wear OS 7, accompanied by a Pixel Drop featuring AI tools like the music-generation model Lyria 3, the multimodal Gemini Omni for video editing, and speech-to-translation tools for Pixel 10a devices. The update also includes a new bubble bar interface for organizing apps, emergency detection on Pixel Watch, and parental control improvements.

Why it matters: Google is using Android and Pixel devices as the primary stage to showcase its latest AI models, positioning Gemini as central to how users create, communicate, and interact with their phones and watches. This reflects a strategic choice to lead with AI integration rather than play catch-up, as Apple did with its September launch of AI upgrades to Siri and iOS.

What to watch: Wear OS will introduce more Gemini features this summer, including personalized widget creation and Personal Intelligence that connects Google apps and chat history with Gemini. Battery life improvements of up to 10% are also arriving in the new Wear OS.