Google showed off a lot of impressive hardware at this year's Made by Google event, with new Pixel smartphones, earbuds, and smartwatches. But the company's Gemini AI model was undoubtedly the real star, playing either a central or supporting role in nearly every feature unveiled.
We've rounded up the most notable, interesting and wacky ways Gemini will be part of Google's mobile future.
Gemini live
Gemini’s most direct appearance came in the form of Gemini Live, which, as the name suggests, brings the AI assistant to life and allows it to act much more human-like. Not only can you speak to Gemini casually without needing formal commands, but you can even interrupt its response and divert the conversation without having to start over. Plus, with ten new voice options and an improved voice engine, Gemini Live is closer to a phone call with a friend/personal assistant than its more robotic predecessors.
Pixel Screenshots
Screenshots is a banal name, but it's an important element of the new Pixel 9 smartphone series. The native mobile app uses the phone's built-in Gemini Nano AI model to turn your photos into a searchable database automatically. The AI can then process an image in the same way a human would.
For example, let's say you take a photo of a sign with details of an event. When you open that photo, Gemini will include options to put the event on your calendar, plot a route to its location, or even open a web page featured on the sign. In addition, the AI will improve common searches, such as finding photos of a spotted dog or a brick building.
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Pixel Studio
Google is using Gemini and its new smartphones to try to get a leg up on the growing AI image generation market with the Pixel Studio app. This text-to-image engine uses Gemini Nano on the smartphone to employ on-device and cloud-based models like Image 3 to create images faster than standard web portals.
The app also includes a menu for changing the style. The main caveat is that it won't create human faces. Google didn't say that's because of a controversy earlier this year, but it may also just be erring on the side of caution.
Add me
Another image-based AI feature Google announced is almost the opposite of Pixel Studio, which doesn't care about faces. Add Me uses AI to create a (nearly) perfect group photo that includes the person taking the photo.
All that's needed is for the photographer to switch jobs with someone else. The AI will then guide the new photographer on how to set up a second shot and combine the two images into one with everyone present.
Pixel Weather and more
Arguably the least necessary use of Gemini’s advanced AI, and probably the most used, is the Pixel Weather app. Gemini Nano’s AI model will produce personalized weather reports that fit what the user wants to see in the app. It simplifies customization in subtle but very real ways. There were plenty of other AI highlights throughout the presentation as well.
For example, Android users can overlay Gemini on their screens and ask questions about what's visible. At the same time, the new Research with Gemini tool will tailor research reports to specific questions, likely especially in academic settings. No other examples are available yet, but Android phones will soon be able to share what they find using the Circle to Search feature.
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