Google is launching a slew of new features for its family of Pixel phones and other mobile devices, including a few updates that are powered by the search giant’s new Gemini Nano AI model. The update began rolling out to compatible Pixel phones on Wednesday.
Many of the changes build on existing Google features, including Pixel-exclusive ones like the Recorder app and Photo Unblur for sharpening old photos. Google is touting the Pixel 8 Pro as being the first phone to run Gemini Nano, and it’s starting by applying the model to the Recorder app and Smart Reply predictive text feature. The update is another sign that Google is weaving AI into its mobile products, a point it emphasized during the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro’s unveiling in October.Â
The Pixel 8 Pro will be able to summarize conversations in the Recorder app without requiring an internet connection. Gemini Nano is also powering a new version of Smart Reply that should provide “high quality responses with conversational awareness,” according to Google’s blog post. The new Gemini-powered Smart Reply is in developer preview and can be accessed in WhatsApp, but will eventually expand to other apps.Â
Video Boost, the option that lets you send video footage to the cloud for more rigorous processing and better brightness, is also coming to the Pixel 8 Pro in this update. Google announced the feature back in October but is only now launching it for its high-end smartphone.Â
Other highlights include an update to Photo Unblur that’s better at sharpening photos of cats and dogs in addition to people, photo previews on the Pixel Fold’s outer screen while using the inner screen as a viewfinder in the camera app, the…
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