On August 21, 2024, Google introduced its Pixel 9 series – an enormous leap in AI-powered smartphones.
As generative AI continues its advance into all facets of our digital lives, the smartphone has turn into a second base away from our computers.
Smartphone makers from Google to Samsung to iPhone are working hard to embed AI tools in every little thing from email to cameras to messaging apps to serps.
Google has taken a giant step forward with the Pixel 9, 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL, promising to vary the best way we interact with our devices. The in-depth reviews make it clear that Google's AI-focused approach to the Pixel 9 is each revolutionary and controversial.
Yes, it pushes the boundaries of what is feasible in mobile technology, nevertheless it also raises many questions.
AI features are on the core of the Pixel 9 Experience
Google has integrated AI into nearly every aspect of the Pixel 9 experience, from virtual assistants to camera tricks and productivity tools.
Let’s quickly undergo what it has to supply:
1. Twin Assistant
Gemini is the default virtual assistant on Pixel 9 devices and uses advanced language models for natural, contextual conversations.
Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL users get one yr of Gemini Advanced free, including Gemini Live for real-time voice-activated AI interactions.
Essentially, it’s a mobile text and speech model that works similarly to ChatGPT with its recent speech mode GPT-4o, which is currently being rolled out worldwide.
Kevin Purdy of Ars Technica compares with Twins to “employing a blogger who is obtainable to me in any respect times, works much faster and causes far fewer complaints than his human colleagues.”
However, he also notes that this AI blogger is “easily distracted and never someone you’d trust to make necessary decisions without further research.”
2. AI-supported camera system
The Pixel series has long been known for its excellent cameras, and the Pixel 9 takes this further with some great AI improvements:
- Add me: Seamlessly inserts users into group photos after taking them
- Video amplification: Improves video quality, smoothes transitions between lenses, and improves low-light performance
- Best shot: Combines multiple group photos to make sure everyone looks good
3. Re-introduce
Perhaps essentially the most powerful and controversial AI feature, Reimagine is a component of the Magic Editor and allows users so as to add, remove, or change elements in photos using text prompts.
This is a fairly unique tool for the time being and has turn into a central point of the Pixel 9's AI suite, but will certainly turn into the brand new standard for future smartphones.
While Google demonstrates its ability so as to add quirky elements like hot air balloons, Investigations by The Verge revealed shocking results, akin to wrecks, disasters and even corpses under sheets.
While AI image generators like MidJourney, DALL-E, and more recently Grok can create lifelike images from scratch, the flexibility to change real photos with AI definitely increases the potential for abuse.
It combines the origins of real media with AI manipulation – a potentially unfathomable combination.
Robert Johnson of The Verge puts it succinctly: “Our ability to make problematic images is much ahead of our ability to discover them.”
When asked about The Verge's findings, Google said its AI tools were designed to “respect the intent of user input,” but acknowledged that this meant they may “create content that may very well be offensive if instructed to accomplish that by the user.”
To protect against abuse, the corporate refers to its policies and terms of service.
However, for anyone who wants to govern AI products, this is simply a weak barrier – but for Google, it’s sufficient legal protection.
4. PixelStudio
Pixel Studio is an AI-powered image generation app for creating original artwork – a mobile version of DALL-E or MidJourney.
Here, too, Pixel Studio can produce questionable results. However, Google has had most of its problems with the primary iterations of the Twins Image model that, amongst other things, produced political figures in Nazi uniforms.
5. Pixel screenshots
This Pixel 9-exclusive feature routinely categorizes and tags screenshots in order that they're easy to seek out – extremely useful for anyone who takes screenshots incessantly.
The app uses AI to extract information from screenshots, akin to document fields or Wi-Fi passwords, and stores it as metadata for straightforward retrieval.
6. AI-enhanced productivity
Finally, the Pixel 9 series integrates AI into some productivity tools:
- AI-based email composing in Gmail
- AI-powered weather forecasts and day by day summaries
- Integration of smart home control
The promise and danger of AI embedded in every little thing
The sheer variety of AI features has fueled criticism of the coherence and usefulness of the tools offered.
It is difficult to understand all of the functions. Linking them together in on a regular basis life requires some practice.
One day, nevertheless, children will grow up with these features as standard. Full use of mobile AI tools will probably be second nature to them.
All in all, the Pixel 9 series represents an enormous milestone in smartphone evolution and guarantees to vary the best way we interact with our devices and the world around us.
Its somewhat crazy number of AI tools is bound to cause controversy, but by most accounts it is a wonderful device.
Attention will soon turn to Apple, which is able to likely respond with its own iPhones with built-in AI within the near future.
