Google’s latest flagship smartphones, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, are being touted as the first phones built for the “generative AI era.” With an aggressive focus on incorporating AI features directly into the devices, Google hopes to compete with the likes of Apple’s iPhone 15 and other flagship smartphones. Soniya Jobanputra, Director of Product Management at Google, explains that the ability to deliver computing power on the smartphone itself is crucial. By performing AI tasks on the device, users don’t need to rely on laptops or other connected devices.
Google’s in-house custom chip, the Tensor G3, is at the core of the Pixel 8 smartphones' AI capabilities. This chip enables intelligence and machine learning, enhancing features such as the camera and voice calls. Jobanputra emphasizes the importance of processing information on the device to reduce latency and provide faster responses. Google aims to move models to the device rather than relying on cloud processing.
During the recent Made by Google event, the tech giant announced several AI-focused features that will be rolled out to Pixel phones in the coming months. These features include the Magic Editor, which uses generative AI to reposition and resize subjects, and the Audio Magic Eraser, which allows users to remove distracting sounds from videos. Additionally, the Pixel 8 Pro offers an exclusive tool called Zoom Enhance, which allows users to zoom in up to 30 times after taking a photo and edit a specific area.
Google’s Bard AI chatbot is also being integrated into Google Assistant, expanding the capabilities of the virtual assistant. Jobanputra emphasizes that these AI features are designed for everyone, not just creators. The company believes that incorporating AI into its products will enable users to become better versions of themselves.
Large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard AI chatbot are considered fundamental technologies upon which many consumer-oriented products and services will be built. Google, along with other tech giants like Microsoft, aims to control LLMs to maintain market dominance.
In addition to AI improvements, the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro come with brighter displays, a new camera system, and seven years of OS upgrades. This significant improvement over previous flagship devices, which only received three years of OS upgrades, could make Google more competitive against iPhones, known for their multiple years of upgrades.
While Google hopes to attract premium Android smartphone users in India with these upgrades, analysts are skeptical due to the high price tags and relatively low visibility of the Pixel brand in the country. Some analysts suggest that Google should focus on strengthening its position in the mid-range smartphone segment in India.
To succeed in the Indian market, Google may need to assemble Pixel smartphones locally, which could lower prices and help the company better compete with Apple and Samsung in the premium smartphone market.
In summary, Google’s Pixel 8 smartphones are designed to excel in the generative AI era, incorporating AI features directly into the devices. By leveraging its Tensor G3 chip and integrating AI capabilities like the Magic Editor and Zoom Enhance, Google aims to compete with Apple and other flagship smartphones. The company also plans to strengthen its position in the Indian market, potentially by assembling devices locally to lower prices and increase its visibility.
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