Last year, Google announced it was accelerating Android’s release schedule. In the past, Google typically rolled out a single Android release each year with new APIs for developers. Starting in 2025, however, the company is moving to two such releases annually: one major and one minor. We’ve already received this year’s major release with the stable Android 16 update in June, and the upcoming Android 16 QPR2 update will be the first minor one. Here are some of the new features we think Google will release in Android 16 QPR2. You’re reading the Authority Insights Newsletter, a weekly newsletter that reveals some new facet of Android that hasn’t been reported on anywhere else. If you’re looking for the latest scoops, the hottest leaks, and breaking news on Google’s Android operating system and other mobile tech topics, then we’ve got you covered.
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Android 16 QPR2 will let AI agents control other apps In my Android 16 review, I highlighted a new API called App Functions. This API allows developers to expose their app’s key features to the device’s default assistant, which can then execute those functions on the user’s behalf. For example, a restaurant app could expose an ‘order food’ function, allowing users to place an order with a voice command without even opening the app.
I posited that the App Functions API could turn Google Gemini into a true AI agent by enabling it to perform far more actions in third-party apps than it currently can. However, Google has been quiet about this functionality, even though the API is available in Android 16.
This may be because there’s currently no way to restrict an assistant’s ability to use the API without disabling the assistant entirely, which some users might find problematic. Android 16 QPR2 may solve this problem by introducing a page that lets you manage which assistant apps can perform actions on your behalf.
While digging through the latest Android Canary release, I spotted a new string in the Settings app for a page titled “agent control of other apps.” This page is destined for Android’s privacy dashboard, but it’s currently hidden. Another unused string I found says the page will let you control which assistants can “perform actions on your device and in other apps.”
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority
The page itself doesn’t open yet, as Android attempts to load an empty activity in the system’s Permission Controller app. This activity is only enabled if the device is running SDK version ‘36.1,’ which corresponds to Android 16 QPR2, confirming the feature is intended for this release.
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority
Android 16 QPR2 brings better parental controls for separated or mixed families The internet is full of content that’s addicting or inappropriate for minors, which is why Android offers parental controls. Through Google Family Link, parents can remotely manage the apps and settings on their children’s devices. However, this system has a limitation: for multiple parents to manage the same child’s device, they must all be in the same Google family group. This can pose a problem for separated or mixed families, as it forces parents to comingle their various Google apps and family payment methods. Google may solve this issue with the new “local supervision” feature in Android 16 QPR2.
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