The firm introduced the Pixel Watch 3, a new foldable Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and its next array of high-end smartphones in the Pixel 9 series at the Made by Google Pixel launch event. Nevertheless, generative AI managed to steal the show even with the new hardware thanks to new Gemini capabilities that are built into the phones and will be accessible on other devices as well, such as a new premium service that requires a subscription.
Considering all the AI tools and capabilities Google released at its I/O event back in May, this shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. How much of these features—including its conversation assistant Gemini (previously Bard)—would be included in its new gadgets was the big issue. It appears that there is a Gemini for every situation.
“We’re fully in the Gemini era, with AI-infused in almost everything we’re doing at Google across our full tech stack,” Rick Osterloh stated on stage.
According to Osterloh, Gemini has been incorporated into the Android operating system, and a significant amount of stage time was devoted to showcasing useful ways the AI assistant may use your phone to somewhat simplify daily activities. Before the new Pixel phones were announced, Google was pushing Gemini so hard that it dragged rival phones, including the Samsung Galaxy S24, on stage to show off the AI assistant.
Even while Google left the event with a respectable list of products, including watches, earphones, foldable phones, and earbuds, it didn’t miss the chance to discuss how Gemini fit into its portfolio. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 boasted some apparent hardware advancements, but the most of the exciting new capabilities were tied to software or artificial intelligence. While some of features, like the Pixel Watch 3’s Loss of Pulse Detection, might only work with new sensors, others might trickle down to earlier Pixel devices.
According to Google’s plan, Gemini will totally replace the previous Google Assistant function. Gemini can predict consumer demands thanks to generative AI, according to Google.
Google wasn’t afraid to demonstrate Gemini on phones other than the Pixel, as it demonstrated how the generative AI assistant can be used in split screen mode on the bigger inner display of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and to assist users on the little cover screen of the Motorola Razr 2024.
But Google showcased more AIs than the standard Gemini. Only Gemini Advanced, an Android device subscription service that costs $20 a month, may access Gemini Live, a voice chat version that engages in conversation with users. Purchasers of Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL smartphones are eligible for a complimentary year of Gemini Advanced.
Google reassures consumers that personal data handled through Google’s private cloud will not be transmitted to third parties, acknowledging that it is aware of privacy concerns. Google also praised Gemini Nano’s on-device generative AI, which processes data on the device—for example, by summarizing phone calls—so that information never leaves your phone.
It’s Gemini that truly revolutionizes the user experience, transforming daily interactions with personalized, AI-driven assistance. As Google ushers in the Gemini era, it’s not just advancing technology—it’s reshaping how we connect with our devices, all while keeping privacy and trust at the forefront.
