Locked device? No problem, as Android could automate tasks anyway

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR An Android Authority teardown has uncovered evidence that trusted Android apps could soon see and control screen contents when your device is locked. Code snippets suggest that this functionality could help you complete tasks on a locked device. It’s theoretically possible that this feature could come to Googlebooks as well.

Google has been pushing agentic AI in 2026, as it unveiled Gemini Intelligence earlier this year to proactively accomplish tasks across your apps. Now, it looks like Google is laying the groundwork for agentic AI and screen automation functionality even when your device screen is locked. You’re reading an Authority Insights story.

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