Alphabet’s Google has unveiled a lineup of new Pixel smartphones, boasting deeper integrations of its artificial intelligence technology.
The upgrades include a Pixel-only feature that enables users to search for information stored in screenshots. Android users can also access Gemini, Google’s chatbot, as an overlay on top of another app to answer questions or generate content.
“There have been so many promises, so many coming-soons, and not enough real-world helpfulness when it comes to AI, which is why today we’re getting real,” said Rick Osterloh, Google’s senior vice president of devices and services. “We’re fully in the Gemini era.”
The announcement was made at a larger-than-usual event at Alphabet’s Bay View campus in Mountain View, California.
The event marked a departure from Google’s traditional autumn announcement timeline, instead taking place in the summer to keep pace with rivals in incorporating AI features into consumer-facing products.
“I’ve been to a lot of Google events, and not only was this one of the most elaborate, but it was one of the most complete,” said Avi Greengart, lead analyst at Techsponential. “Google demonstrated that it was at the forefront of AI.”
The new Pixel smartphones would feature several AI-powered functions, including a voice conversation feature. However, a live demo of Gemini’s ability to cross-reference a picture of a concert poster with the calendar app took three attempts and two devices to run successfully.
The Pixel 9, a 6.3-inch display model, will retail at a starting price of $799, a $100 increase from the previous model.
The Pixel 9 Pro and foldable Pixel 9 Pro Fold would ship in September, while the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL will begin shipping later in August.
Google’s move came ahead of Apple’s planned launch of a new iPhone in September, which ould include “Apple Intelligence,” a suite of generative AI-powered features within native applications, and an integration with ChatGPT, the chatbot developed by Microsoft-backed OpenAI.
Boluwatife Enome
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