Google’s Made by Google 2024 event has wrapped up, bringing a slew of announcements that emphasize the company’s focus on AI integration across its devices and services.
This year’s event, which took place just ahead of Apple’s anticipated September iPhone reveal, showcased the new Pixel 9 lineup, the expanded capabilities of Gemini AI, and significant updates to Google’s Nest, Pixel Watch, and Pixel Buds products.
Pixel 9 Series and Gemini AI Integration
The Pixel 9 series was a major highlight, introducing three new phones: the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL, along with the foldable Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
The Pixel 9 and 9 Pro are distinguished primarily by their display sizes and resolutions, with the Pixel 9 Pro featuring a higher resolution and the Pixel 9 Pro XL boasting a larger 6.8-inch display compared to the Pixel 9’s 6.3-inch screen. All models in the Pixel 9 lineup come with significant camera upgrades, though specific details on these enhancements were not provided in the event summary.
Google has replaced its traditional Google Assistant with Gemini AI across the Pixel 9 series, making Gemini the default virtual assistant on these devices. This marks a significant shift in Google’s approach to AI integration within its hardware, as Gemini AI is now a core component of the user experience across multiple devices.
Pixel 9 Pro Fold: Google’s Latest Foldable
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Google’s second foldable phone, was also unveiled at the event. This device does not drastically change the design of its predecessor but offers a slightly larger 8-inch display when fully opened. It is thinner than the previous model and features a larger external display, along with camera upgrades that align with those in the rest of the Pixel 9 lineup.
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold will be priced at $1,799 and, like its counterparts, will have Gemini AI integrated as its assistant.
Gemini AI Android Launch
AI took center stage throughout the event. Gemini Live, a new feature of the AI, allows for conversational back-and-forth interactions between users and the AI. This feature is available to Google One AI Premium subscribers and is designed to react more realistically to human speech, offering responses that more closely mimic human conversation.
It has officially launched for Android, positioning itself as Google’s response to OpenAI’s Advanced Voice Mode.
AI-Powered Photo Editing and Pixel Studio
Google also announced updates to its photo-editing tools, which will be available on the Pixel 9 series. Building on the Magic Editor tool launched last year, the new features include:
- Enhanced screenshot search capabilities
- The ability to generate AI-created images through the Pixel Studio app, and
- An auto-framing feature that automatically recomposes images to focus on the subject.
Pixel Watch 3: New Sizes and Health Features
The Pixel Watch lineup has been expanded with the introduction of a 45 mm model, in addition to the existing 41 mm size. Both models feature larger displays due to slimmer bezels and boast twice the brightness of previous versions.
A significant new feature for the Pixel Watch 3 is “loss of pulse” detection, which can identify when a user’s heart is not beating in a life-sustaining manner. This feature is designed to respond to serious health events such as cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, and overdoses by automatically contacting emergency services and providing the user’s location.
Pixel Buds Pro 2: Smaller and Smarter
The Pixel Buds Pro 2, Google’s latest iteration of its wireless earbuds, were introduced with a focus on AI integration.
Priced at $299, these earbuds include the Gemini Live feature, making them more compatible with natural language interactions. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are also equipped with the Tensor A1 chip, which has allowed Google to reduce their size by 27%, improving comfort and portability.
Made You Look: A Fun Tool for Families
Google introduced a new feature called Made You Look, designed to help parents capture better photos of their children. This feature uses the foldable screen’s front-facing camera to display visually engaging content to entertain or distract the subject during a photo session.
Initially, the feature will display simple visual stimuli, but Google has teased future updates that will include licensed characters, such as Joy from “Inside Out.”
Pixel Weather and Other AI-Enhanced Updates
The new Pixel lineup will also include a dedicated weather app called Pixel Weather, which incorporates AI capabilities. Users can customize the app to display only the weather information they are interested in, and it will also feature AI-generated weather reports alongside standard forecasts.
Nest Thermostat Refresh
Ahead of the event, Google announced a long-awaited update to the $280 Nest Learning Thermostat, its first in nine years. This update comes after a challenging period for the Nest brand and the broader smart home market.
The new Nest Thermostat will continue to use Google Assistant as the main interface for smart home controls, but Gemini AI will be integrated to enhance natural language interactions.
Goodbye Chromecast, Hello Google TV Streamer
Google officially announced the end of the Chromecast line, closing out its 11-year run. Replacing it is the $100 Google TV Streamer, which does more than just stream content. This new device will also serve as a smart home hub, compatible with Google Home and Matter-powered devices.
While it will continue to use Google Assistant, Google has promised future updates that will introduce Gemini-powered enhancements.
The Made by Google 2024 event showcased Google’s continued push into AI, integrating its Gemini AI across a wide range of products and services, setting a clear direction for its technological ecosystem in the coming year.
Featured Image courtesy of Google
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