Google’s latest Android update addresses the growing problem of scam calls. It is also elastic Circle to search activities and AirDrop compatibility for more Android devices, and we’re introducing safety features for kids. New skills start rolling out now.
The update comes on the heels of the larger Android 17 update that Google unveiled last month, which bakes AI deeper into the operating system. Called Gemini Intelligence, it’s designed to turn AI agents into real assistants who lend a hand instantly without needing to be asked.
This month’s Android updates are a little flashy but undeniably effective — especially as scam calls get more sophisticated. Here’s what to expect.
Fake call detection
Android’s fake call detection feature, baked into the Phone app, will let you know if someone appears to be impersonating one of your contacts. For example, if you receive a call from “Mom” and the program flags it as a scam, you will see a warning that reads, “This may not be Mom. Someone may be calling from her contact number.” This can be a handy feature as AI makes it easy to duplicate the voices of friends and family members, leading to more sophisticated — and dangerous — scams.
Fake call detection works by checking both phones in real time to gauge who the caller is who they say they are. When your real mom calls, for example, her authenticated device will send a secret authentication signal end-to-end encrypted with RCS. But if a scammer pretending to be your mom calls — possibly using Internet dialer spoofing and an AI voice cloner — their device won’t have that confirmation signal. Your phone will then check your mother’s phone to make sure she didn’t pick up the call. You will receive a warning and an instruction to hang up.
The feature is rolling out globally this month to Phone by Google for devices running Android 12 and up, starting with Pixel devices. Both the contact and the person receiving the call need to be using the Google Phone app. False call detection is also required Power of RCS in Google Messages.
Watch this: The biggest AI review for Android: Everything you need to know about Gemini Intelligence
Book details on Google Play Books
Another new feature called Book Insights helps you refresh your memory or dig up information about what you’re reading in Google Play Books. You can tap “Catch me up” to pick up where you left off (similar to the Story So Far feature on Amazon’s new Kindle models). You can also highlight a passage to ask questions or go deeper about certain themes or characters. Book Insights is released in the Google Play Books app and is available for specific titles in English.
AirDrop for all Android devices
Perhaps one of the most anticipated features to arrive in recent months is support Apple’s AirDrop in the middle Instant Sharing. Finally, it’s easy to easily share photos, videos and other media across iPhones and Android phones with a few taps.
AirDrop compatibility is already available on select phones including the Google Pixel 9 and 10, as well as the Samsung Galaxy S26 series. Now, it will work on many Android devices, including Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Answer 7, IZ TriFoldS24 series, Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6. It will also be based on OnePlus 15Xiaomi 17T Pro, Honor Magic V6 and Vivo X300 and X300 Pro.
See also: How to use Apple AirDrop on Samsung Galaxy S26 phones
The Search circle dress feature is growing
For Google Circle to search the feature quickly extracts information about what’s on your device’s screen. It received a fashion upgrade earlier this year with the addition of Find the Look, which, as the name suggests, helps you find an entire outfit in a photo or screenshot. You can also see how that outfit would look on you using the powerful AI try-on feature. Find the Look is now available on all devices that support Android 14 and above with Circle to Search.
Sort through your drawer in Google Photos
Another clothing-focused feature allows you to mix and match the pieces you already have and try them on virtually. Called Google Photos Wardrobe, it will catalog what you’re wearing across your photo library and turn those outfits into images that you can sort through to put together your next look. This is rolling out next week to select users in the US, India and Brazil with Android 10 and above.
Children can access features of the Personal Safety app
New safety features are coming soon for children under 13. They will be able to access features in the Personal Safety app such as displaying medical information and entering emergency contacts on their lock screen. They can also activate the vehicle’s collision detection, which automatically communicates with emergency services and texts emergency contacts in the event of an accident. The personal safety app is available worldwide.
Cook up fun emoji combinations
Finally, you’ll be able to customize the emoji to better match what you’re feeling. The Emoji Kitchen on Gboard includes a collection of new stickers, like a mouse with a pink heart, that you can send to your friends for a smart and surprising touch.