Google I/O keynote has officially wrapped.
From the introduction of the latest range of Pixel devices to groundbreaking updates in AI technology, Google I/O did not disappoint. But it was clear that AI was the undisputed star of the show, and rightfully so – after all, I/O is the premier event for developers who are at the forefront of creating the next generation of intelligent applications.
In a statement, CEO Sundar Pichai noted how they are taking the opportunity to make AI even more helpful for people, for businesses, for communities, for everyone.
“We’ve been applying AI to make our products radically more helpful for a while. With generative AI, we’re taking the next step. With a bold and responsible approach, we’re reimagining all our core products, including Search,” he said.
In case you missed the live event, we have compiled a comprehensive summary of the major highlights from the Google I/O keynote.
3 new Pixel devices
Google revealed its new range of Pixel hardware and unveiled three new devices: the Pixel Fold, the Pixel Tablet, and the affordable Pixel 7A.
The company is throwing its hat into the foldable devices ring with launched of the Pixel Fold, which comes in at a price tag of $1,799. The device boasts a 5.8-inch OLED outer screen that unfurls to reveal a larger 7.6-inch OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. Meanwhile, the new 11-inch Pixel Tablet is priced at $499 and doubles as a smart display with the included magnetic charging dock that also functions as a speaker.
Not to be outdone, Google also updated its midrange A-series with the Pixel 7A, which comes equipped with the powerful Tensor G2 chip and a 6.1-inch 1080p display that can run up to 90Hz. The base version starts at $499, but there’s a pricier $549 option that supports millimeter wave (mmWave) available from some carriers.
A new AI tool for business
Google’s newest AI tool for businesses is called PaLM 2 (Pathways Language Model). It has been trained on multilingual texts and offers powerful coding capabilities, including suggesting bug fixes and providing comments that developers can follow. Currently, PaLM 2 is available in preview and is being used to power Bard.
AI-powered Google Search
Google is shaking up its Search game with the introduction of AI snapshots, a new feature that’s part of the Search Generative Experience (SGE). By opting into this feature, you’ll get AI-powered answers right at the top of your search results for some queries, giving you more context and information. You can then further refine the information in the snapshot by asking follow-up questions.
These AI snapshots are made possible by the latest version of Google’s large language model (LLM), PaLM 2, which was also announced at the I/O event. PaLM 2 is already being used in 25 Google services, including the Bard chatbot, and comes with significant improvements in reasoning, coding, and translation.
Bard for everyone
Google’s AI assistant, Bard, is now available in over 180 countries worldwide, and the waitlist has been removed, so anyone can start using it right away.
In addition, the platform has received some significant updates that leverage the power of PaLM 2. Bard can now generate and debug code in 20 different programming languages, along with a host of other improvements such as the ability to send responses to Gmail, Google Sheets, and Docs.
Bard is becoming increasingly integrated with other Google products, with the ability to use data from Google Lens and Google Maps, as well as connect with select apps outside the Google ecosystem. In response to user demand, Google has also added Dark Mode as an option for those who prefer a darker background.
Magic editor for Google Photos
Google is introducing a new photo editing tool called Magic Editor that will make it easy to make complex adjustments to your photos. With this tool, you can easily move objects and have the background automatically generated behind them. This feature will be available on select Google Pixel devices later this year.
GMail ‘Help Me Write’
If you have an email account, chances are you use Gmail. And if you’ve ever struggled to express yourself in an email, Google’s got you covered with their latest AI-powered feature announced at I/O called Help Me Write. It’s like Smart Compose on steroids, and all you need to do is input a few keywords, and Gmail’s AI will generate a well-written email for you to send.
Express yourself on Android
Google is not limiting AI to just its search engine. The tech giant is expanding AI-powered features to Android, as well. One of these features is Magic Compose, which will be incorporated into the Android Messages app. It allows you to respond to texts using AI-generated suggested responses.
Another feature is the ability to create custom wallpapers using AI. Rather than choosing from pre-existing options, you can describe an image and let Google’s text-to-image diffusion model generate it for you. In addition, next month, Pixel users will have access to a new feature called “cinematic wallpaper,” which adds depth to their existing photos.
Duet AI for Workspace
Google introduced a new moniker for its array of AI-powered tools for Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, and Gmail, known as Duet AI, during the I/O keynote. Though these Workspace functionalities allow users to perform various actions like composing an email or producing images from text in Slides, they are presently only accessible to those who have registered for the waitlist.
Brand new Google Home
AI-first notebook
Project Tailwind is an AI-powered tool that has the capability to extract important concepts and queries from multiple Google Docs saved in your Drive. This AI acts as a personal assistant that can learn from the information you provide and help you comprehend large amounts of data and arrange it systematically. It even cites the sources used in the synthesis of information and guides you back to the original documents.
The platform offers a new way of helping students organise their notes. Google dubbed this new offerings as an “AI-first notebook”.
To try out Project Tailwind, you can sign up for the waitlist at g.co/Labs.
