Google Play is getting TikTok-style app previews and AI-powered search

Google announced new Google Play features at I/O 2026 focused on app discovery and AI-assisted browsing.

Gemini integration, Ask Play, and Play Shorts aim to help users find apps and games through conversational search and short-form video.

Play Games Sidekick also received updates, expanding Google’s push to make Play more assistant-driven and less dependent on traditional store browsing.

The changes suggest app discovery may increasingly shift toward AI assistants and video-first experiences.