Google has announced its first smartphone fully powered by its AI system “Gemini”.
Google on Tuesday announced new AI features coming to Android devices. The move to bring its Gemini AI assistant to supported devices again shows how Google aims to put its AI in front of consumers before Applewhich will release its AI on iPhone, Mac and iPad later this year.
Google doesn’t make much money from its hardware business, but the latest Android features could help drive revenue through the company’s Gemini AI subscription program.
“We absolutely have rebuilt the assistant experience with Gemini so you can naturally talk to it like you would another person,” Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat said in a blog post on Tuesday. .”
“Starting today, you can pop up the Gemini overlay over the app you’re using to ask questions about what’s on your screen,” Samat wrote. It will be available on hundreds of phone models from dozens of device manufacturers, according to Google.
Google has had some AI features in Android in the past, but this is the first year that it’s putting a strong emphasis on new features powered by a large AI language model installed on devices.
An example the company provided involved a user uploading a photo of a gig listing and asking Gemini to see if their calendar is free, after which Gemini checks Google Calendar. If the user has availability in their schedule, Gemini offers to create a reminder to check ticket prices later that evening.
Assistant can also perform tasks using information from Google apps.
“For example, Gemini can help create a daily workout routine based on your personal trainer’s email or use your Google Drive resume to write a job resume,” the company said in its blog post.
The company also said that a user can ask the Gemini assistant to compose an email and “create an image of a cake for someone who loves space,” which the assistant can create and attach to the email. Or, on YouTube, a user can ask Gemini a question about the content of a video.
You can ask about what’s on your phone screen and in other apps like Maps, Flights and Gmail. Google said it’s working to add support for third-party extensions, which suggests developers may be able to add the option to their apps later.
Gemini’s assistant has a number of voices. A user can have a human conversation through the Gemini “Live” feature, which the company first announced at its developer conference in May. “Live” will initially be available for select devices and subscribers to Google’s Gemini Advanced program, which costs $19.99 per month.
In June, Apple announced its much-anticipated AI boost, Apple Intelligence, which can do things like recognize notifications important to the personal environment and perform cross-app tasks, as well as allow Siri to use its ChatGPT OpenAI when needed for tasks such as writing tools and image generation.
Apple’s system is currently in testing. Some early features will roll out this fall alongside new iPhones, but the bulk of the system won’t roll out until next year.
New Pixel 9 and Pixel Watch 3 phones
Google also announced its latest line of domestic “Pixel” phones, including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which feature Gemini AI features.
The Pixel 9 series has, among other new features, an upgraded camera and a screen that’s 35% brighter for better viewing in direct sunlight. It comes with Google’s latest Tensor G4 processor and 16GB of RAM to support AI usage. RAM stands for random access memory—an important part of a computer’s hardware that stores data needed to run applications.
RAM is a critical component for running artificial intelligence inside a smartphone. Google has he said that the amount of memory is a major factor in determining whether a phone can run AI.
Instead, only high-end iPhones released in 2023 can run Apple Intelligence, which AI developers believe is due to the smaller amount of memory installed in older iPhones.
The Pixel 9 starts at $799, which is $100 more than the Pixel 8, however, smartphone costs have risen across most phone manufacturers over the last year. The Pixel 9 Pro, which comes with a free year of “Gemini Advanced” subscription, starts at $999, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL starts at $1,099. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold starts at $1,799.
Finally, Google also announced the Pixel Watch 3. It is available in two sizes, 41mm and 45mm, with larger screens than previous models. New features include the option to schedule running workouts, insights into your recovery with fitness and cardio data, and AI-powered workout recommendations. Google also said the Pixel Watch 3 is more deeply integrated into its ecosystem, allowing you to access Nest camera and doorbell feeds, Google TV remote, offline Google Maps and more. Pixel Watch 3 offers up to 24 hours of battery life, or up to 36 hours with Battery Saver mode.
— CNBC’s Kif Leswing contributed to this report.
