With the launch of the new Pixel 10 series, Google is rushing ahead of Apple to deliver AI-powered smartphones to consumers. The devices, announced during Wednesday’s “Made by Google” livestream, come just weeks ahead of Apple’s expected iPhone 17 reveal, which promises to be more of the same — better cameras, possibly thinner devices, and new colors to choose from.
Google, meanwhile, has been rapidly integrating its AI platform into its devices.
Last year, its Pixel 9 series added a number of AI features, like Gemini Live (Gemini’s voice mode), image generation tools, call notes, searchable screenshots, and more. Since then, Google says that Gemini Live conversations have proven to be five times longer than text-based conversations.
Image Credits:Google
This year, the tech giant is rolling out even more AI-powered upgrades with the launch of its Pixel 10, including a Visual Overlays feature for the camera, a proactive “Magic Cue” feature, Camera Coach, Voice Translate for calls, an assistant-like “Take a Message” feature, Pixel Journal, and more.
Combined, the updates allow Google to showcase what its latest AI technology can do when enhanced by its Tensor G5 processor, an upgrade to the company’s custom silicon designed for AI experiences and the first to run its newest Gemini Nano model.
Alongside the launch, Google announced that Gemini Live will gain a new audio model that will detect your tone — like whether you’re excited or concerned — and adjust its response accordingly.
Image Credits:Google
With the addition of a feature called Visual Overlays, Gemini Live will be able to see what you see through the lens of your camera and provide guidance by highlighting things on your screen. For example, while traveling in a foreign country, you could hold up your phone to see if the street signs around offer information about parking along the roadside.
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Image Credits:Google
Another new feature, Magic Cue, lets the AI be more proactive by offering contextual suggestions in real time, across apps like Gmail, Calendar, Messages, Screenshots, and others.
The idea of a more proactive interaction between people and Google technology is something the company has dreamed of for years, long before the AI era. In the early 2010s, for example, Google introduced an Android feature called Google Now that would pop up cards with real-time information related to your daily schedule or the time of day, like nearby restaurants at lunchtime, upcoming meetings, or flight details.
Years later, Magic Cue is the AI-powered reintroduction of this feature, but one where it inserts itself into your everyday apps and interactions.
Image Credits:Google
Google demonstrated how Magic Cue could suggest a restaurant to dine at with a friend, offering quick access to place a call to the restaurant to make a reservation. It could propose a reply to your friend with the reservation details or point you to your calendar to check your availability.
Magic Cue’s suggestions appear within the app you’re using and are wrapped with a rainbow colored outline to differentiate them, as well as within Daily Hub, a personalized daily digest in your Discover feed. You can also tap on its suggestions to take action.
Image Credits:Google
Also similar to Google Now, Magic Cue will be able to surface reminders. But it goes a step further by popping up reminders and notifications more intuitively. For instance, it may remind you of errands you need to handle, like a return of an online order, suggest topics you may want to research, or recommend new playlists to stream.
At launch, Magic Cue’s suggestions will be limited to select activities, like settling up a tab, adding events to your calendar, and showing the forecast for an upcoming trip in …