Google Introduces AI-Powered Smartphones And Cutting-Edge Gadgets
MOUNTAIN VIEW in CaliforniaGoogle, part of Alphabet, presented a portfolio of new Pixel smartphones on Tuesday with deeper integrations of its artificial intelligence technology as it raced to embed AI into hardware.
The event, held at Alphabet’s Bay View office in Mountain View, California, breaks with Google’s practice of announcing the latest edition of Pixel—its flagship smartphone, which debuted in October 2016—in the autumn.
The early scheduling is Google’s latest attempt to keep up with competitors in terms of incorporating AI technologies into consumer-facing goods, and it comes ahead of Apple’s anticipated launch of a new iPhone in September.
In June, Apple revealed that devices, including the most recent generation of iPhones, would receive upgrades that included “Apple Intelligence,” a host of generative AI-powered features within native applications, and an interaction with ChatGPT, the chatbot developed by Microsoft-backed OpenAI.
“We’ve just seen a surge in AI announcements. Linn Huang, an IDC analyst, said, “I don’t think you want to sit on it too long if you’re Google.”
The new AI integrations revealed on Tuesday include a Pixel-only function that allows users to search for information stored in screenshots. Android users may now use Gemini, Google’s chatbot, as an overlay on top of another app to answer queries or create 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.”
Employees demonstrated numerous live demos of new Gemini functions, including a voice conversation feature, but an attempt to utilize Gemini to cross-reference an event poster image with the calendar app required three attempts and two devices to complete properly.
The Pixel 9, with a base 6.3-inch display, will start at $799, $100 higher than the previous model. This and the 6.8-inch Pixel 9 Pro XL will be available later in August, according to a company spokeswoman. The Pixel 9 Pro, with enhanced features such as a better camera and the foldable Pixel 9 Pro Fold, will be available in September.
The new gadgets will be available for pre-order on Tuesday.
According to IDC, Google’s market share in global smartphone shipments is less than 1% as of the second quarter of 2024. It is well behind Samsung’s market share of 18.9% and Apple’s market share of 15.8%, according to IDC. This is due in part to Google’s focus on higher-end price categories and its entry into fewer markets.
According to IDC, Google is the fourth-largest smartphone maker in the United States, with a 4.5% market share.
However, the Pixel series has allowed Google to demonstrate innovations and boost the developer community around its Android operating system, which is utilized by device manufacturers like as Samsung.
Android is one of numerous frontlines on which Google is competing to embed AI in consumer-facing applications. In May, it unveiled a slew of updates to essential products, including its search engine.
The Pixel’s exterior was revamped by the company’s engineers, who also added camera enhancements and Google’s new Tensor G4 CPU.
On Tuesday, Google also revealed new versions of its Pixel Watch 3 smartwatch and Pixel Buds Pro 2 wireless earphones.
