While Google took 2025 to set up the stage for people to care about AI, in 2026, the company needs to harness the momentum and seal the deal. Next year will need to be the year Google makes people care about AI when they’re buying a new phone.
And while it’s not all about AI, it’s going to be what Google needs to rely on to push the needle on smartphones, which seemingly are becoming boring by the year, with nothing to really excite a lot of people.
