Google’s recent Made by Google hardware event featured several intriguing AI-related announcements that may have been overlooked. One such announcement is Call Notes, a feature available on the Pixel 9 family of devices. Call Notes saves a summary of your conversation and a transcript in your phone’s call log, making it useful for those with short-term memory challenges. While some may have concerns about privacy, Google assures users that Call Notes runs fully on-device and notifies all participants when recording is in progress.
Another exciting announcement is the introduction of Pixel Studio, an image-generating app exclusive to the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Powered by an on-device generative AI model and Google’s Imagen 3 model in the cloud, Pixel Studio allows users to enter prompts and generate creative images. Users can also add stickers and make edits after generating the image. However, it is worth noting that Pixel Studio currently cannot generate human faces, likely due to previous issues with similar AI models. Google has not specified if there are additional safeguards in place to prevent potentially harmful image generation.
For those who frequently take screenshots, Google has introduced Pixel Screenshots. This app uses AI to analyze the content of screenshots, including text, people, and objects. Unlike Google Photos, Pixel Screenshots works locally, making it easier to search for specific information within screenshots. For example, if you capture various squirrel-related items for a friend’s birthday, Pixel Screenshots will analyze the images and make them searchable within the app. It will even include links to where you found the items and provide a summary of the relevant information. Additionally, Pixel Screenshots can search for door codes and addresses across photos, further enhancing its usefulness.
These AI-related announcements from Google’s Made by Google event showcase the company’s commitment to improving user experiences and leveraging AI technology. From enhancing call summaries and generating creative images to making screenshots searchable, Google continues to innovate and integrate AI into its products. While there may be privacy concerns and limitations to consider, these features offer valuable functionality and convenience for Pixel 9 users.
