Google has announced its first smartphone based entirely on its AI system “Gemini”.
Google announced new artificial intelligence features that will be available on Android devices on Tuesday. The move to bring the Gemini AI assistant to supported devices shows again how Google wants to bring its AI closer to consumers before Applewhich will introduce its AI to iPhones, Macs and iPads later this year.
Google doesn’t make much money from its hardware business, but the latest Android features could drive new revenue through the company’s Gemini AI subscription program.
“We’ve completely redesigned the Assistant experience with Gemini so that you can talk to it naturally, just like you would talk to another person,” Sameer Samat, president of the Android Ecosystem, said in a blog post on Tuesday. “It can understand your intent, follow your train of thought, and complete complex tasks.”
“Starting today, you can display Gemini’s overlay on top of the app you’re using to ask questions about what’s on your screen,” Samat wrote. Google says it will be available on hundreds of phone models from dozens of device manufacturers.
Google has had some AI features in Android before, but this year the company is putting a big emphasis on new capabilities, powered by a large AI language model installed on devices.
One example the company cited was a user uploading a photo of a concert listing and asking Gemini if their calendar was free. Gemini then checks Google Calendar. If the user has free slots in their schedule, Gemini offers to create a reminder to check ticket prices later that evening.
The assistant can also perform tasks using information from Google apps.
“For example, Gemini can help you create a daily workout plan based on your personal trainer’s email address or use your resume in Google Drive to write a professional biography,” the company explained in its blog post.
The company also said a user could ask the Gemini Assistant to compose an email and “create a picture of a cake for someone who loves space,” which the Assistant can then create and attach to the email. Or a user could ask Gemini a question about the content of a video on YouTube.
You can also ask what’s on your phone screen in other apps, like Maps, Flights, and Gmail. Google said it’s working on adding support for third-party extensions, suggesting developers may be able to add the option to their apps later.
Gemini’s assistant has a range of voices, and a user can have a human conversation through Gemini’s “Live” feature, which the company first announced at its developer conference in May. “Live” will initially be available to select devices and subscribers to Google’s Gemini Advanced program, which costs $19.99 per month.
In June, Apple announced its long-awaited artificial intelligence initiative, Apple Intelligence, which can, for example, recognize important notifications in a personal context and perform cross-application tasking. It also allows Siri to access OpenAI’s ChatGPT when needed, for example for writing tools or to create images.
Apple’s system is currently in testing. Some early features will launch alongside the new iPhones this fall, but the bulk of the system won’t be released until next year.
New Pixel 9 phones and Pixel Watch 3
Google also announced its latest line of homegrown “Pixel” phones, including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which come with Gemini AI features.
The Pixel 9 series features an improved camera and a 35% brighter screen for better viewing in direct sunlight, among other features. 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 crucial component for running artificial intelligence in a smartphone. According to Google, memory capacity is an important factor in whether a phone can run AI.
In contrast, only high-end iPhones launched in 2023 will be able to run Apple Intelligence, which AI developers say is due to the lower installed memory of older iPhones.
The Pixel 9 starts at $799, which is $100 more than the Pixel 8. However, smartphone prices have increased at most phone makers over the past year. The Pixel 9 Pro, which comes with a free one-year “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.
Most recently, Google also announced the Pixel Watch 3. It comes in two sizes, 41 millimeters and 45 mm, with larger screens than previous models. New features include the ability to plan running workouts, information on your recovery with fitness and cardio load data, and AI-powered workout recommendations. Google also said the Pixel Watch 3 is more deeply embedded in its ecosystem, allowing you to access Nest camera and doorbell feeds, the Google TV remote, offline Google Maps, and more. The Pixel Watch 3 offers up to 24 hours of battery life, or up to 36 hours in battery saver mode.
— CNBC’s Kif Leswing contributed to this report.
