Google has introduced its latest Pixel smartphones, incorporating advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
These tools include generating captions for photos and manipulating images using AI technology.
This move represents Google’s continued effort to integrate AI into mainstream technology.
The company had previously signaled its commitment to this approach during its annual developer’s conference five months ago.
AI for User Assistance:
Rick Osterloh, Google’s Senior Vice President of Devices and Services, emphasized the company’s focus on making AI more helpful to users while maintaining responsibility.
He described the new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones as a means to have “AI in your hand.”
Integration of Google Assistant and AI Chatbot, Bard:
Google plans to allow its Google Assistant to leverage the recently launched AI chatbot, Bard, to perform various tasks.
These tasks include generating concise captions for photos taken with Google’s Android-powered phones.
The new Pixel phones feature improved cameras with enhanced AI-powered editing tools, predominantly available on the Pixel 8 Pro.
These AI features can enhance photos, zoom into specific sections, replace faces in group shots, and remove objects or people from images.
Price Increase for Enhanced AI Features:
Google has increased the starting prices for both the Pixel 8 as well as Pixel 8 Pro by $100 compared to last year’s models.
The Pixel 8 will be priced at $700, while the Pixel 8 Pro will cost $1,000. Apple similarly raised prices for its latest iPhone models last month.
The Pixel 8 Pro is equipped to measure people’s temperatures, a feature that may be appealing in a post-pandemic era. However, regulatory approval is still pending for this capability in the United States.
While Google’s Pixel phones have received positive reviews, they have struggled to significantly impact a market conquered by Samsung and Apple.
Nevertheless, Pixel’s share of the high-end smartphone market has steadily grown in recent years, reaching around 4% from less than 1% three years ago.
Google’s Revenue and Antitrust Trial:
Despite its modest smartphone market share, Google generates substantial revenue through its digital ad network, largely anchored by its dominant search engine.
Google’s search engine agreements with device manufacturers are under scrutiny in an ongoing antitrust trial in Washington, where the U.S. Justice Department is investigating allegations of anti-competitive behavior and market power abuse.
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