From AI search to Pixel smartphones: 10 most interesting Google I/O 2023 announcements
Miscellaneous / / May 11, 2023
An open-source chatbot, picture generator, email assistant, home tablet and more.
On the night of May 11, the presentation of Google I / O 2023 took place. Within its framework, the company showed several new devices and talked about improvements to branded services, which are now permeated with technologies based on artificial intelligence. We chose the most interesting.
Google search
Search integrates a feature called Search Generative Experience (SGE). With it, the first place in the issue will be occupied by the answer of AI, which will allow you to get the necessary information immediately, without going to sites.
These AI responses are based on an updated version of Google's Large Language Model (LLM) called PaLM 2, which Google also talked about at I/O. The model is already in use across 25 of the company's services, including Bard's chatbot, and includes improvements in reasoning, coding, and translation.
bard
Google announced that chat bot powered by artificial intelligence is now available to everyone, whether or not you were on the waiting list. The company is adding a host of new features such as Japanese and Korean language support and an easier way to export generated text to Google Docs and Gmail.
There's also a new dark mode and visual search features. Google plans to add even more features in the future, including image generation using the Adobe Firefly generator, integration with third-party services, and new languages, including Russian.
Android
AI features are coming to Android too. One of them, called Magic Compose, will live in the Messages app and will provide the ability to respond to interlocutors using the answers suggested by AI.
Google is also adding a feature that will let you use AI to create your own wallpapers. Instead of choosing from a set of ready-made options, the user will be able to describe the image with text, which will then be generated by the smartphone.
Pixel devices will add a "cinematic wallpaper" feature that will add a parallax effect to your photos. There will be a depth effect.
Wear OS
Even though Wear OS 3 hasn't even been fully rolled out yet, Google is already gearing up for Wear OS 4. The company announced that the updated OS will be more energy efficient and will allow users to back up their data to easily transfer it to the new watch.
In addition, Wear OS 4 will receive full WhatsApp support and improved smart home integration. which will allow you to adjust lighting, control multimedia and view animation from home video cameras.
For now, Wear OS 4 is only available in developer preview and on the emulator, with the full release coming later this year.
gmail
The mail service will add the function "Help me write" (Help me write). It will allow you to generate a draft letter based on prompts. Moreover, the text can be adjusted to the situation by changing the wording and style.
As an example, the presentation showed how a user responds to an airline with a request for a full refund. After being prompted to “request a full refund for this canceled flight,” the AI function generated a full draft that used all the details from the airline’s email.
"Google Maps"
For large cities, Maps has long had an Immersive View mode that offers a preview of the place in a 3D model, and now this view will also be available for navigation.
The route will be displayed with traffic and weather in real time. It will work when driving a car, cycling and walking. By the end of the year, the regime will be rolled out to 15 cities peace. Of course, there are no Russians among them.
Google Photos
The photo service is getting a brand new AI-powered editing feature that lets you add quite significant changes to the image, such as improving the sky, moving a person or object, and getting rid of people in the background plan.
We talked about this technology separately.
"Google Drive"
Drive adds a new Spam folder in the sidebar that "makes it easier to share and view your files." Like Gmail, Google automatically categorizes content as offensive or spam. You can also do this manually for any file.
When an unwanted file is moved to the spam folder, you will be unsubscribed from the sender, which will prevent all comments, sharing, and mobile push notifications for the file.
Workspace
Google also announced a new generative AI for Workspace services called Duet AI. It brings new use cases for Documents, Sheets, Presentations, Meet and Gmail.
For example, it allows you to create speaker notes for each slide in a presentation, quickly generate images from text hints, create background images for calls, or even build template tables based on text description.
Pixel
Traditionally, as part of the I / O, Google showed new devices. The first to introduce a relatively inexpensive smartphone Pixel 7a, which received waterproof protection, wireless charging, and "the best camera under $500."
Next was presented Pixel Fold is the company's first foldable smartphone. This is a fairly compact flagship with two screens and a top-end camera that supports 5x optical zoom. The price of the device is appropriate.
And the Pixel Tablet was also introduced, which will come with a magnetic charging dock that acts as an audio speaker. The tablet is positioned as a solution for the home, including for managing other smart devices.