Google adds 13 connected apps to Gemini to automate daily tasks

Google has expanded the capabilities of its Gemini AI assistant by adding 13 new connected apps, allowing the tool to execute real-world tasks directly within the chat interface. The rollout began in August 2026, coinciding with the company's Made by Google hardware event.

These new integrations function through account linking, which grants Gemini the necessary permissions to perform actions on a user's behalf. The 13 apps are divided into four primary categories: Productivity/Creativity, Local/Entertainment, Music, and Home/Health/Lifestyle. In the productivity sector, Gemini now connects with Wix, Otter.ai, and Granola. Local and entertainment options include Ticketmaster, GetYourGuide, Fever, OpenTable—which is currently scoped to the UK—and Localiza, a Brazilian car rental firm. Music services iHeartRadio and Pandora have also been added, while Home, Health, and Lifestyle integrations include Thumbtack, Angi, and Zocdoc.

The shift toward proactive AI

This expansion is a central component of Google's broader strategy to evolve Gemini from a conversational chatbot into a proactive AI agent. By enabling the assistant to handle multi-step workflows—such as booking doctor appointments via Zocdoc or reserving tables through OpenTable—Google is moving toward a model where the AI can execute complex tasks rather than simply retrieving information. This follows previous efforts to introduce "proactive AI" features, such as the "Daily Brief," which surface relevant information from connected services before a user explicitly requests it.

Implications for AI utility and privacy

According to Mai Lowe, Group Product Manager for the Gemini app, these integrations allow users to "easily plan, create, and tackle your to-do list all in one place." This represents a significant shift in AI utility, moving the technology toward action-oriented automation. However, the transition introduces substantial privacy considerations. To function, the system requires standing access to highly sensitive personal data, including private meeting transcripts from Otter.ai and Granola, home addresses via Angi and Thumbtack, and personal health records through Zocdoc.

What to watch

As Gemini becomes more deeply embedded in third-party services, the industry will be watching how Google manages the security of these high-sensitivity links. While the functional capabilities of the assistant have increased, the focus now shifts to the transparency of data handling and the ease with which users can revoke access to these connected accounts. It remains to be seen if Google will introduce more granular permission controls as the list of connected apps continues to grow.