Google's AI Studio now lets anyone build Android apps in minutes

Google announced new native Android app creation capabilities in its web-based Google AI Studio. The announcement came on Tuesday at Google IO 2026. The capabilities reduce app creation from weeks of setup and coding to minutes. Google says the capabilities could make sense for seasoned developers prototyping apps quickly or for first-time creators. Apps are built with the Kotlin programming language using Google's Jetpack Compose toolkit. The apps support integration with hardware sensors such as GPS, Bluetooth, and NFC. The apps are meant only for personal use for now. Publishing for family and friends is on the roadmap. Users can preview apps using the embedded Android Emulator in a web browser and install them on Android phones over USB with the integrated Android Debug Bridge. AI Studio can automatically create the app record, package the bundle, and upload it to an internal testing track in Google Play Console. Users can export projects via zip file to GitHub for use in Android Studio. Google plans to allow publishing for family and friends and to add support for Firebase integrations including Firestore, Firebase Auth, Firebase App Check, and other tooling. Consumers will be able to use Gemini AI to find apps on the Play Store and the web. A new Ask Play AI-powered overlay will let users discover apps through natural conversations with AI in the Play Store. Apps will be surfaced through conversations with the Gemini virtual assistant with rollout in the weeks ahead on Gemini for the web and on Android. Later this year Gemini will surface over 450,000 movies and TV shows plus locations to livestream sports. These can link users from their queries to a developer's Android app. Google previewed other Android-related announcements last week but held back this news until Tuesday at Google I/O.