Google beat Apple to the punch by releasing new AI-packed smartphones.
IN The Made By Google event on Tuesday, Google peppered the Pixel 9 release with celebrity appearances and appearances at Apple. Keke Palmer and NBA star Jimmy Butler were on stage, and Google executives demonstrated what the Pixel camera could do.
At the event, Google unveiled four new Pixel phones built with Google's Gemini AI assistant: the $799 Pixel 9, the $999 Pixel 9 Pro, the $1,099 Pixel 9 Pro XL, and the $1,799 Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which unfolds into a 8-inch tablet.
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The Pixel 9 is Google's first line to ship fully with the Gemini Nano Multi-Modalwhich means users can access the AI assistant through voice, text, code, image and video. Users should not you have a network connection to enter Gemini Nano and Pixel 8 Proreleased last year, uses the same system.
The Made By Google event usually occurs in Octoberand bringing it up to August, a month ahead The expected release of Apple's iPhonecould be Google's attempt to beat Apple, Bloomberg thoughtful.
Apple is said to be launching Apple Intelligence and bringing AI to iPhone this fall for the 15 Pro, Pro Max and every new iPhone. New, upcoming phones could boost Apple's existing user base upgrade their old iPhones for AI features.
Apple currently dominates the $61.5 billion US smartphone market, with the iPhone catching up 58.81% of market share compared to the Google Pixel 4.6%.
What can Google's AI really do?
Google took tasks that users turn to their phones for, like checking the weather, and gave them an AI boost. For example, the new Pixel Weather app features an AI-powered weather report, while Call Notes gives phone calls AI-generated transcriptions that are stored on the phone, not in the cloud, for safety.
Pixel Screenshots saves phone screenshots in a separate app so users can search for them with AI and not lose them in the camera roll. Image generator Pixel Studio creates new images on the spot, and Google demonstrated how to use the app to make party invitations.
Google Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL. Credit: Google
Google's pre-event advertising asked Gemini to write a farewell letter and begin it “Dear Old iPhone”.
But the first Gemini demo took three tries to work. However, Google used it as an opportunity to take another swipe at Apple by pointing out that it was a live demo – alluding to Apple prelist those.
Google also claimed that the Pixel 9 had the “world's first camera with AI” and compared a photo taken by the new Pixel 9 Pro XL to the iPhone 15 Pro Max without mentioning Apple.
.@Google is doing a LIVE Gemini demo, repeating that it's a live demo attacking @Apple making canned demos and videos. It worked on the 3rd try. #MadeByGoogle pic.twitter.com/BRKv6J3vGc
— Anshel Sag (@anshelsag) August 13, 2024
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