Google accidentally releases ‘COSMO’ AI assistant: Here’s what actually happened

Google appears to have accidentally released COSMO, a high-powered experimental AI assistant, on the Google Play Store ahead of the Google I/O 2026 conference. While the app has since been removed, the brief listing offered a rare look at the company’s next-generation on-device AI ambitions.

Although it was published under Google’s main Play Store account but attributed to Google Research, the app was quickly pulled, confirming it was likely an internal test bed not yet intended for public use. 

The app required a massive 1.13 GB download, largely because it bundles a local version of the Gemini Nano model, allowing the AI to process data directly on the Android device. 

Upon installation, the app requested extensive system permissions to function, though users reported a very basic chat interface consistent with its experimental nature. 

The application showcased a wide array of automated capabilities designed to integrate with the Android system.

It offers document and calendar automation that automatically drafts letters, summarizes texts, and suggests calendar entries based on conversation context. 

It is designed to utilize a browser agent to automate web tasks and perform multi-source Deep Deep Research for complex queries. 

Capabilities like Quick Photo Lookup and Recall aim at finding specific photos or memories without leaving a conversation. 

There are also tools for summarizing ended conversations, explaining jargon and providing background on people and events.

In addition, the recent leak comes just weeks before Google I/0 2026, fueling speculation that COSMO represents the future of the Android assistant experience, potentially replacing or significantly upgrading current Gemini integrations.