Stronger than Microsoft? Google Pixel 9 phone's new AI features enhance photo taking, screenshots, and image generation
The media reported that in a series of new machine learning features called Google AI, Pixel Screenshots is similar to Microsoft's controversial Recall feature, but it focuses more on privacy, only applicable to manually taken screenshots by users. The new Add Me feature may be an upgrade to the AI photo feature Best Take, while another feature Studio may be a generative AI image generator similar to Apple's Image Playground feature
Author: Li Dan
Source: Hard AI
Rumors have it that the new generation Pixel series smartphone, Pixel 9, set to be released at the end of August this year, will feature new artificial intelligence (AI) functions.
On Tuesday, July 2nd, Eastern Time, media learned that the new features of the Pixel 9 series are a series of new machine learning functions called "Google AI." In addition to the existing Circle to Search feature on previous Pixel phones and the Gemini AI assistant available on all Android phones, Pixel 9 will introduce some new features. Among them, the most eye-catching one is called Pixel Screenshots, which is similar to Microsoft's controversial AI personal computer (PC) feature, Recall.
Previously, it was pointed out by the media that Recall was embroiled in a negative review storm because it took a screenshot of the active window every few seconds, recording all user actions in Windows by default without content review. This means that Recall can capture all screen content, including bank account passwords, confidential documents, etc. Later, due to privacy concerns, Microsoft suspended the Recall feature.
Unlike Recall, Google's Pixel screenshot feature, although similar in appearance, focuses more on privacy. It does not automatically capture screenshots of what users are doing, only applicable to the user's own screenshots. When a user manually takes a screenshot, the feature will add some additional metadata to it, such as the app's name, network links, etc. Subsequently, it will be processed by local AI, such as Google's new multimodal AI, Gemini Nano. This feature allows users to search the content of the screenshot and ask related questions to the AI assistant based on the screenshot.
The media also revealed that Pixel 9 will have two other AI features. One of them is called Add Me, which is used to ensure that everyone appears in a group photo when taking pictures. Although the media did not receive detailed information about this feature, the name sounds like an upgraded version of the AI feature, Best Take, first seen in the Pixel 8 series. Best Take not only can change the expressions of people in photos but can also merge photos containing different individuals, which, although controversial, remains practical Media believes that the addition of this feature indicates that Google is more inclined to believe that the focus is on what users want to shoot, rather than what is actually shot, and Google believes that AI may solve this problem.
Another new feature is called Studio. Media believes that it should be the previously exposed Creative Assistant App. Previously, the media revealed that this app would be integrated into the screenshot editor app of the Pixel series phones, allowing users to create stickers.
However, from the latest information obtained by the media, it seems that Studio can do more than just create stickers. It may be a generative AI image generator similar to Apple's Image Playground feature released last month. Google has been developing its own image and even video generation models, so the media believes it is worth paying attention to how Google integrates Studio with other apps.
Some netizens summarized the recent media leaks about the Pixel 9 Pro configuration: a 6.34-inch Samsung M14 120Hz OLED display; Tensor G4 and Exynos 5400 modem; main camera, ultra-wide-angle camera, and periscope telephoto camera; 16GB RAM and up to 512GB of storage space; Android 15 system; satellite connection, and an expected price of $999.
Some netizens also mentioned that Google will showcase not only the Pixel 9 series phones but also the base Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL on August 31st at the Made by Google event. Their display sizes are 6.24 inches, 6.34 inches, and 6.73 inches respectively. The Pixel 9 will be equipped with dual rear cameras, including an ultra-wide-angle lens, while the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL will feature a 50MP telephoto 5x zoom lens. The Pixel 9 series will be powered by Google's 5G chip Tensor G4 on Samsung's 4nm process.
