Google AI could mix good and questionable ideas in the anticipated Pixel 9
Google is reportedly going to unify existing and new machine learning (ML) features into a collection known as Google AI for Pixel. An anonymous insider recently spoke to Android Authorityand reveals what the tech giant has in store for us.
Before we dive into the details, keep in mind that this report of a potential update comes from a single screenshot of a menu. Not much is revealed, so the conclusions mentioned in the first article are mostly speculation.
As for existing features, both Circle to searchalready available on Pixel and Galaxy smartphones, and Gemini, the brand’s current AI assistant, will be moving under this new Google AI umbrella. The first new feature mentioned in the report is “Add Me,” which is described as a way to “make sure everyone is in a group photo.”
It’s not known exactly what this means, but Android Authority suspects it’s a refreshed version Best take. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s an AI tool that stitches photos together to make sure everyone looks their best and can help fix awkward photos. “Add Me” could be an upgrade, as it lets the user add themselves to photos they weren’t originally a part of.
“Studio” is the second new addition, and judging by the accompanying text, it’s an AI image generator. Google has been working on image-generating models for a while, and in February the company launched ImageFX as one of its first forays into the technology. This could potentially be the mobile version that brings it to a much wider audience.
Scan screenshot
The final ML feature, Screenshots, is perhaps the most interesting of the bunch. According to the publication, the tool uses artificial intelligence to sift through screenshots on the device and provides information about those screenshots to answer questions.
That sounds an awful lot like Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature. In case you’re not familiar, Recall was a search tool that logged your activity on certain Copilot Plus PCs by constantly taking screenshots. It was heavily criticized as a privacy nightmare, and Microsoft has since pulled the tool.
Google Screenshots differs from Recall in that it is “more focused on privacy.” Instead of recording consistently, it only works on screenshots you take yourself. From there, the software adds “extra metadata” to files, such as app names and web links.
Images are then “processed by a local AI”, which can be used to look up specific images or answer questions about the content. Android Authority points out that it’s a “better implementation of the idea than what Microsoft [had] created.”
Analysis: AI Competition
It’s possible that Google is bundling everything under one name to better compete with rivals like Apple Intelligence and Moto AI. Smartphone makers are injecting AI technology into their devices as a new way to stand out. Apple Intelligence is particularly interesting because it will open up so many possibilities to the Mac ecosystem when it launches later this year. For example, it will summarize messages, generate emojis and respond to text messages instantly.
The Pixel series has similar capabilities, but Google’s AI services don’t feel as unified as Apple Intelligence. They’re also missing key tools like the image generator and screenshot scanner.
There’s no word yet on if or when the Google AI Collection will release, though the report claims it will launch alongside the Pixel 9.
Be sure to check out TechRadar’s list of the best Pixel phones for 2024.
