Google Announces Five New Android Features

Google has announced five new features coming to Android 17 and related services, including updates to Google Messages, Gemini Live, and Find Hub.

Motion Assist adds a subtle bubble overlay that moves in time with a vehicle to help reduce motion sickness. Users can set it to turn on automatically or add it to Quick Settings, then customize the bubbles’ shape, color, and opacity.

Google Messages now supports customizable chat wallpapers and themes. These changes are visible only to the person who adds them. Google Keep is also being added to Google Messages, allowing people in a chat to share and update a note or list together. The feature is starting to roll out now.

Find Hub will soon let users create a searchable inventory of their belongings by telling Gemini where items are stored. The remembered items feature is rolling out to phones running Android 16 and above in countries where Gemini and Find Hub are available.

Finally, a new visual assistant in Gemini Live will use the camera to provide audio guidance about surroundings, including help reading fine print or menus. It is coming soon to phones running Android 9 and above in countries where Gemini is available.