This would be the first yr Google launches new Pixel telephones earlier than Apple’s next-generation iPhones hit shops. The Pixel 9 occasion is scheduled for August thirteenth, a daring transfer for the corporate. It alerts that Google believes the Pixel 9 lineup is powerful sufficient to make an impression with potential consumers greater than a month earlier than the iPhone 16 hit shops.
As with every of Google’s bulletins since ChatGPT arrived on the scene, it is best to anticipate the Pixel 9 even to characteristic new AI experiences that Google has tailor-made for its handsets. Rumors going again to final December teased an AI assistant coming to the next-gen Pixel 9, bringing Google’s Gemini AI to the telephones.
We already realized at I/O 2024 {that a} multimodal Gemini Assistant just like ChatGPT (GPT-4o) could be out there on Android later this yr. On the time, I assumed this might be an unique Pixel 9 characteristic, at the least initially.
Quick-forward to early July and a few of Google’s purported new AI options for the Pixel 9 may need leaked — however one thing appears to be lacking. They don’t sound as spectacular because the Apple Intelligence expertise that Apple launched a couple of month in the past.
There’s additionally some extra probably dangerous information: one of many new AI methods coming to Pixel 9 telephones would possibly resemble Microsoft’s controversial Home windows 11 Recall characteristic, which has now been recalled. Nonetheless, there are key variations between the 2, with Google taking a unique method that appears a lot smarter.
Google AI is coming
A supply inside Google reportedly revealed the Pixel 9 AI options to Android Authority’s Kamila Wojciechowska. Apparently, Google goes for a “Google AI” branding for the expertise, which is according to rivals. Samsung debuted Galaxy AI earlier this yr, and Apple got here out with Apple Intelligence, a intelligent approach to spin the “AI” abbreviation into an Apple factor.
In accordance with a leaked screenshot, “Google AI at its greatest” will characteristic some attention-grabbing new experiences. The Gemini Assistant and Circle to Search might be a part of the brand new experiences on Pixel 9 telephones. Then, there are three new AI options for the upcoming handsets: Add Me, Screenshots, and Studio.
Add Me appears to be a photograph characteristic that permits you to “be sure everybody’s included in a gaggle photograph.” I actually hope this isn’t an enhancing characteristic that permits you to add folks to pictures even when they weren’t there when the shot was taken. But it surely positive feels like that’s what it’s. The characteristic would construct on the prevailing Magic Editor and Greatest Take AI options out there on Pixel 8 gadgets.
Studio is likely to be associated to a Artistic Assistant app that leaked lately. On the time, we heard that Google desires to let Android 15 customers create customized stickers and probably emojis identical to Apple does in iOS 18. It wouldn’t be shocking to listen to that Pixel 9 telephones would be the first to get it.
Pixel Screenshots
Lastly, Pixel Screenshots is the Google AI characteristic that appears to resemble Microsoft’s Recall. However there are key variations right here. First, the AI solely appears to be like on the screenshots you save, whereas Recall takes screenshots of every thing you do.
Pixel Screenshots is the brand new residence for all of your screenshots. Once you activate the app’s Al processing, it would save and course of useful particulars to grow to be a searchable library that will help you discover something in your screenshots.
Secondly, Screenshots will reply questions in regards to the data in these screenshots, which is data you would possibly want. It gained’t present you what you probably did at a sure time up to now in your handset:
When you activate Al processing in Pixel Screenshots, the app will use Al to summarize your new and present screenshots and reply your questions in regards to the data in them. Once you activate this characteristic, new screenshots will even save metadata like internet hyperlinks, app names, and when the screenshot was taken, as a way to search these particulars later.
Lastly, not like Recall, you’ll be capable of flip off the characteristic simply.
Pixel Screenshots knowledge might be processed on-device, so Google gained’t see your screenshots. However, not like Recall, it is likely to be tougher for hackers to entry your screenshots.
The actual Pixel 9 magic
What’s lacking from this image is the magic. The connections between these options won’t be evident, so we don’t but have an entire image of what the Google AI expertise might be like. However I feel the multimodal Gemini Assistant that Google demoed at I/O might be a key a part of all that, although it’s one thing the report doesn’t deal with.
Google AI will be capable of hear and see what you hear and see. It’ll additionally be capable of take a look at your display or at your environment. Add the screenshots characteristic, and Gemini entry in Google apps, after which Google AI begins to look much more like Siri in Apple Intelligence.
I’m speculating right here, but when that’s the case, we’ll all perceive why Google may need needed to host this Pixel 9 occasion earlier than the iPhone 16 fashions got here out. Google would possibly need Google AI to be the primary AI assistant on telephones and beat Apple Intelligence’s Siri to market.
