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| Android is committed to AI and adaptive design: the keys to the latest updates for developers |
Google isn't just updating Android as an operating system; it's also refining the tools developers use. In September 2025, the company unveiled a suite of new features that put artificial intelligence and adaptive design at the heart of the creative process. From Compose to Android Studio, and including an experimental app called Androidify, the message is clear: the future of Android is flexible, customizable, and AI-powered .
Compose Adaptive Layouts 1.2: Interfaces that understand large screens
With over 500 million large-screen Android devices in use and foldable phones like the Pixel 10 Pro Fold gaining traction, adaptive design is no longer a luxury. Google has released the Compose Adaptive Layouts 1.2 library in beta , enabling the creation of fluid interfaces that seamlessly transition from a single panel to multiple panels.
This means that a user who uses your app on a phone and then opens it on a tablet can have a three times richer and more productive experience, without extra steps or frustration. New patterns like list and detail side-by-side reduce taps and speed up tasks, while "Large" and "Extra Large" breakpoints help precisely define where to adjust the interface.
Personally, I've seen how an app that seemed limited on mobile transforms into something completely different on a large screen when these patterns are adopted. It's not just about design: it's about real usability.
Androidify: Creative customization with Gemini and Image
Beyond productivity, Google is also focusing on fun. Androidify is the new app (and web experience) that turns selfies into personalized Android bots using Gemini and Image.
The process is fascinating: Gemini 2.5 Flash validates the photo, generates JSON descriptions, and finally, Image 3 creates the avatar with a playful aesthetic . You can add automatically suggested clothing, accessories, and hairstyles, and even export it as a sticker for use in messaging apps.
The app is built entirely in Jetpack Compose , with a flexible design that adapts to both mobile phones and foldable devices in desktop mode. It also combines CameraX with ML Kit to detect poses and capture at the perfect moment.
What's interesting is that Androidify isn't just a toy: it's a demonstration of how Google technologies (Gemini, Firebase AI Logic, Compose, ML) can be integrated to create creative and accessible experiences. It's a glimpse of what we might see in social and productivity apps.
Android Studio Narwhal 3: AI in the IDE and faster releases
The official IDE also received its third Feature Drop , with improvements that show how Google wants to make Android development more agile and AI-assisted.
The most striking new feature is the AGENTS.md file , where teams can document style rules, conventions, and context that Gemini will automatically use to generate or review code. It's like having a "project manual" always available for AI.
Another key improvement is the ability to attach mockups, screenshots, and source files directly to the Gemini context, increasing the accuracy of responses. For design, the new resizable Compose Preview lets you test breakpoints by dragging the window edges and saving previews with a single click.
In addition, the study includes practical improvements:
- Backups and restoration for testing data migrations.
- Play policy lint with direct guides for correction.
- A Proguard editor warning about overly broad rules.
- Clearer navigation in large projects with multiple modules.
The feeling when using these features is that development feels less rigid. Iteration is faster, testing is more visual, and AI integration is more natural.
A coherent vision: Adaptive and AI-assisted Android
If we put it all together—Compose Adaptive Layouts, Androidify, and the improvements in Studio—the narrative is clear: Google wants Android to be a more flexible platform with AI naturally integrated into every layer of development .
For development teams, this translates into concrete actions:
- Adopt multi-panel patterns for large screens.
- Use Compose's new automatic text wrapping and transitions.
- Leverage AGENTS.md and context attachments to better train Gemini within projects.
- Validate data continuity with backups and respect Play policies from the IDE.
With foldable devices and tablets gaining ground in the market, adaptation has ceased to be an option and has become a strategy. As Google says: “Adopting an adaptive mindset is more than a best practice: it’s a growth strategy . ”
The conclusion is clear: designing for Android in 2026 is no longer about designing for a single format, but for a complete ecosystem . And with Gemini becoming increasingly prevalent, creativity and productivity no longer compete, but rather enhance each other.
Opinion: Android is no longer just a system, it's an intelligent ecosystem
What strikes me most about these updates is that Google no longer thinks of Android as an isolated operating system, but as an intelligent and adaptive ecosystem that learns from users and supports developers every step of the way. For years, those of us who work with Android saw fragmentation as the challenge: different screen sizes, different manufacturers, multiple layers of customization. Today, that same challenge seems to be turning into an opportunity thanks to AI and an increasingly mature adaptive design.
The fact that Gemini can be integrated into the IDE to understand style rules, or that Compose allows for smooth transitions on foldable devices and tablets, demonstrates that we're no longer talking about workarounds, but rather a common language between design, development, and the final user experience. The inclusion of Androidify, while it may seem like a playful experiment, also makes a point: AI not only improves productivity, it also fosters creativity.
I believe we're entering a stage where developers will have more tools than ever before to focus on what truly matters: creating experiences that adapt to people, not the other way around. And that, ultimately, is the best definition of progress.
