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At Google I/O 2026 on Tuesday, new AI models and features are spilling off the presentation stage. One, called Gemini Spark, is what Google describes as a personal AI agent that runs 24/7, taking actions on your behalf.
As described on stage, Spark's purpose is a little broad, but it's meant to run projects in the background, collecting data from the web and your various Google software accounts (like Gmail, Docs, chats and others).
Google's presenter provided a few examples of how Spark can help. One was sending a work email to the team, compiling info from documents and messages into a summary of wins from the week. Another, bigger task was planning a block party, tallying RSVPs, keeping track of who was bringing what and reaching out to folks who hadn't responded. Then, Spark can generate files to show progress -- like an RSVP tracker that updates whenever it detects email responses in Gmail.
Vice president of Google Labs, Josh Woodward, introduced Gemini Spark on stage at Google I/O 2026.
Google/Screenshot by CNETThe pitch for Spark is to account for all the little things that would've otherwise slipped your mind. In the party-planning example, it could identify some limits and considerations to avoid breaking your homeowners' association rules. And since it's humming in the background, it'll update as new information comes in. In another scenario described later in the presentation, Spark could see on your calendar that you're assigned to bring snacks for your kid's tee-ball game and order food on Instacart to arrive on time.
The presenter pitched more assistant-focused uses for Spark, like listening to your brain dump of thoughts and organizing them into shape. Examples given on stage included reminders to reach out to a new friend from a party the previous night, or asking the AI agent to make a list of everything parents need to take care of for their student kid before summer, listed by deadline. This aligns with other AI features shown off at I/O 2026, like Docs Live, which similarly organizes brain-dump ramblings into coherent text.
Google Spark will be coming to Search later this year.
Google/Screenshot by CNETSpark will be coming to trusted testers this week and Google AI subscribers next week, but only for those signing up for the Ultra tier -- either the new $100-per-month level or the newly reduced $200-per-month level.
For everyone else, Spark will be available in Chrome later this summer, allowing you to use it directly in the browser. Later in the year, Google will release Android Halo, a dedicated home base for AI agents on phones, and presumably Spark will be included.
