Google launches Gemini Spark — 24/7 personal AI agent running on Google Cloud VMs

Summary

Google introduced Gemini Spark at I/O 2026: a personal AI agent that runs 24/7 on Google Cloud VMs and operates autonomously across Google Workspace, third-party apps, and the open web. Spark is Google's direct answer to OpenAI's Operator and Anthropic's Computer Use, positioned as the default agent layer for consumer and Workspace users. Beta access is bundled into the new $100/mo AI Ultra tier. Simon Willison's IO recap (and TechCrunch coverage of Cat Wu's keynote) emphasize the "agent anticip