Update
Google hasn’t followed through on that, but today we can see a teaser for the Pixel 9 series, which could be a token gesture to the company’s hardware offerings in key notes about software.
The Pixel 9 series is believed to have three models this year, including a new smaller Pixel 9 Pro model with a Pro XL model and a standard version. All phones should run the new Tensor G4 chip, and will have plenty of new AI features to build on those added to last year’s Pixel 8 series.
Circle to Search isn’t just a feature on the Galaxy S24, Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a. You can also use it on your iPhone (sort of).
With a new shortcut, you can instantly take a screenshot and search it through the iOS Google app. This may be as close as iPhone users will ever get to a prototype of Circle for Search, at least for now and Google is pretty sure who should use it.
Everyone’s favorite browser, Google Chrome, may get some attention today. We may already know an upcoming feature for it.
Circle to Search, currently only available on select Android phones, may appear in Chrome with a Google Lens update. This will allow even more users to try this simple search method, although it is not yet complete, and Google may need a little more time to start rolling it out.
Our AI expert Ryan Morrison has some predictions for what AI announcements Google will make later today.
He believes we’ll see new features coming to Gemini with a large language model and demo of chatbots, developer-only and public versions, Gemini-based features in familiar Google apps like YouTube Music and Google Docs, and some advanced technology. To show that it can continue with OpenAI and GPT4o.
Google’s Project Starline is a very fancy-looking video conferencing tool that the company has been demoing for quite some time. But with its recent announcement that it will finally launch in 2025, HP is getting first dibs on the technology, so expect it to be briefly mentioned at I/O today.
The basics of Starline are that it works like a normal video call, but theoretically allows for a more natural conversation with a full 3D model of the person you’re talking to. The hardware required has progressively shrunk since Starline’s introduction, so it will soon be small enough to mount on a dedicated camera or other device, rather than requiring special multi-camera monitors or dedicated rooms for use.
OpenAI is clearly looking to steal some of Google’s pre-I/O thunder by hosting its own event on Monday (May 13). When your announcements are important, it’s easy to divert some attention from Google What OpenAI has to say.
Features include:
The GPT-4o model can analyze image, video and speech. That’s almost enough to make up for the event coming and going without any sign of ChatGPT-5.
One more day until #GoogleIO! We feel 🤩. See you tomorrow for the latest news on AI, search and more. pic.twitter.com/QiS1G8GBf9May 13, 2024
Google may have always planned to tease some AI-powered feature ahead of Google I/O. Or maybe all the AI announcements released 24 hours before I/O did the trick. But Google spent Monday afternoon Showcases new AI capabilities A camera app that looks like a Pixel.
Using voice prompts, you’ll ask what the camera sees in a conversational tone. The AI describes what’s in its viewfinder with impressive accuracy. Check out the footage posted by Google to see for yourself.
At last year’s Google I/O, the Pixel Fold presented Google with a foldable device that took on Samsung’s leading foldable device. Actually, among us Pixel Fold Review, we appreciated its slim, durable design and wide cover display. (A feature Samsung is coming up with Galaxy Z Fold 6Incidentally.)
We did not expect to see Pixel folding 2 It was previewed at Google I/O this year, and not just because Google wants to focus on AI. Instead, it’s rumored that the next pixel could be folded into the fold Pixel 9 Sorted and renamed Pixel 9 Pro folding. If so, that means a fall boot for a foldable follow-up.
Google has some news to announce along with Apple ahead of Google I/O. The two tech giants have teamed up Enhance cross-platform protections Against someone trying to track your location with a Bluetooth tracker.
If you’re on the go with an unknown tracker, you’ll get an alert on your phone regardless of which platform the device is connected to. Previously, iPhone users would see alerts for Apple Airtags that would track them without their knowledge, but other trackers would not necessarily be connected to Android devices.
This feature is now included in the release iOS 17.5 update For iPhones, Google adds support for any Android device running Android 6 or later.
We were expecting the Pixel 8a to debut at Google I/O today, but Google had other plans in mind. Instead, it declared Pixel 8a Last week — no doubt setting the stage for all the AI talk we’re going to hear today.
We may not have a Pixel 8a demo, but we do have the next best thing — a Pixel 8a review. Thanks to Tensor-powered AI features on a sub-$500 device with Google’s extended software and security support, this phone is very impressive.
You can read the full preview of Google I/O 2024 here, but here’s a rundown of some of the things we can expect to hear during today’s opening keynote.
Gemini: Google’s AI model is likely to get a new version, and we can learn more about Google’s apparent plans to use Gemini as the basis for a new version of Google Assistant. (We expect Pixie to debut on the next Pixel flagships, which will mark an early Pixel 9 teaser at Google I/O.) Additionally, we’ll be planning lots of demos showing how Google’s AI efforts add new features. Many existing Google products. (Map seems natural, but we can also talk about things like Docs, Chrome, Gmail, and Search.)
Android 15: A beta for the next version of Android can be downloaded on the Pixel device, and its full release will be at the end of summer. But with an audience full of developers, Google will take some time to review Android 15 and talk about some of its key new features.
Wear OS: Android isn’t the only operating system that Google does. There’s Wear OS, which powers several smartwatches, including the Pixel Watch 2. We can find out what features are coming to these wearables, and it certainly won’t be a shock if AI-powered capabilities are on the list. A sneak preview of the Pixel Watch 3 looks set for fall, though, so it’s going to be a long shot.