Google’s 2024 Lineup: Unveiling Hidden Gems in AI Technology

The Made by Google hardware event, which took place on a recent Tuesday, unveiled a plethora of new products. Amid the flurry of announcements, several AI innovations stood out, despite not dominating headlines – notably the image creation tool Pixel Studio and Pixel Screenshots for efficient information management in screenshots.

Summarizing Conversations with Call Notes

For those of us with less than stellar short-term memory, Call Notes emerges as a potentially indispensable tool.

Exclusive to the Pixel 9 series, Call Notes offers a succinct summary and transcript of your phone conversations, conveniently saved within your call log.

There are legitimate concerns about privacy with Call Notes. However, Google ensures it’s a fully on-device feature, alerting every participant when a recording starts. The broader privacy implications remain to be assessed by experts.

Introducing Pixel Studio, the Image Creation Application

Pixel Studio, available solely on the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, couples an in-device AI with Google’s cloud-based Imagen 3 model for generating images. By inputting prompts, users can unleash their creativity, adding stickers and edits as desired.

Although Pixel Studio operates partially offline, a stable internet connection is necessary. Following a mishap with Gemini, Google confirmed to my colleague Ivan Mehta that creating human faces is currently beyond its capabilities, without detailing further content restrictions.

Making Pixel Screenshots Search-Friendly

Like many, I often take screenshots for future reference — be it tickets, QR codes, or other vital info. However, organizing and finding specific screenshots later can be cumbersome and inefficient.

Enter Pixel Screenshots for upcoming Pixel 9 users — an innovation that employs AI to make screenshot content, including texts and visuals, easily searchable on your device.

For instance, when shopping for a squirrel-themed gift, screenshots of potential items are not only stored but their contents are analyzed and indexed, making them retrievable through a simple search in the app. This feature extends to locating diverse types of information, such as addresses and door codes within your photo library.