Google Unveils Pixel 9 Lineup and Integrates Gemini AI Across New Devices
Google's Made by Google 2024 event showcases the new Pixel 9 hardware alongside deep integrations of Gemini AI. The company highlights new conversational AI capabilities that aim to compete with Apple and OpenAI.
Google hosts its Made by Google 2024 event to reveal the highly anticipated Pixel 9 lineup and a heavy emphasis on artificial intelligence. This year, the tech giant shifts its typical hardware schedule to precede Apple's September iPhone announcements. The main focus of the showcase is the deep integration of Gemini AI across the entire Pixel ecosystem, including updates for the Nest, Pixel Watch, and Pixel Buds.
The star of the software announcements is Gemini Live, a conversational AI feature that allows users to have natural, flowing back-and-forth voice interactions with their devices. Early impressions indicate the feature is responsive and outperforms Siri, though it still experiences occasional hallucinations during live demonstrations. Google confirms that Gemini Live launches today for Android users who subscribe to the Google One AI Premium tier.
Beyond voice interactions, Google introduces several other AI-driven tools such as Pixel Studio for image generation and Call Notes for summarizing conversations. While the initial live stage demo encounters a minor hiccup when responding to a prompt about Sabrina Carpenter, subsequent demonstrations of email drafting and playlist building run smoothly. These reveals solidify Google's strategy of weaving AI directly into the daily functionality of its new hardware.