Besides the event earlier this year, what stands out to me is the “magic” Google used to tease the Pixel 9 Pro.
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“Don’t miss the magic” Google Store Home Page “Get ready for the magic of #MadeByGoogle” Social Posting It was shared widely. Compared to last year, the teasers (and event invites) already have clear references/connections to AI, implying that Gemini will be in charge of these magical experiences.
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“Magical” product experiences range from “just work” to something so futuristic that it’s amazing it’s possible with today’s technology. To date, Google has named three features “magic”; the first two are “Editor” and “Eraser” in Google Photos, and the third is “Compose” in Google Messages.
Looking at what Google is currently developing, I think it’s likely that Gemini Live will lead the “magic” allocation for the Pixel 9 series. Live is pitched as a way to have a more “natural conversation” with Gemini, with “cutting-edge voice technology” that will allow you to “talk at your own pace or interrupt a response to ask a question.”
With 10 voices to choose from and the feeling of talking to a real human, especially for those unfamiliar with text chatbots, may be enough to wow people and encourage some basic use of Gemini. To me, the most interesting thing about Gemini Live on mobile is whether it will usher in its use on the next generation of smart displays and speakers.
Plus, coming soon is the Project Astra camera feature that lets you point the world at you and ask questions. As I wrote last week, Google’s goal is to create an AI assistant for the real world. Being able to point your phone at things and add voice queries to get help is a key part of this goal. But the “later this year” timeline for Astra means it probably won’t be ready for the Pixel 9 launch. A December Feature Drop seems more likely.
![](https://i2.wp.com/9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/06/Gemini-Live-Camera.jpg?ssl=1)
Meanwhile, the feature I’m most excited for is Ask Photos, powered by Gemini. It makes a lot of sense for this Google Photos feature to launch on the Pixel 9. Essentially, it turns your library of images and videos into a repository of knowledge about you. This feels a lot more useful in my personal life than Gemini could ever be.
![](https://i0.wp.com/9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/05/Google-Photos-Ask-Photos-cover-.jpg?ssl=1)
It’s a Pixel, so it needs new camera features, and we think enhanced zoom will be the highlight feature. Announced at the end of last year’s keynote, the feature is still missing from the Pixel 8 Pro. For now, Google may be saving it as a highlight feature for the Pixel 9 Pro, especially in ads.
![Pixel 8 Pro Zoom Enhancement Poster](https://i0.wp.com/9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/10/Pixel-8-Pro-Zoom-Enhance-poster.jpeg?ssl=1)
Last year, the Call Assist suite (Call Screen, Direct My Call, Hold for Me) benefited from new AI that’s said to reduce spam calls by an average of 50%, a more natural voice, and the ability to ask if a call is urgent. As technology advances, it seems inevitable that we’ll see more features added here.
The next big update for Gemini Nano is multimodality, allowing the model to handle audio, images, and video. Examples the Android team shared at I/O include dynamic suggestions, where Gemini understands what’s on your screen, TalkBack for rich image descriptions, and real-time fraud warnings.
The mention of Android in the keynote was very new, and Android is now in the same division as hardware. This integration is still very recent, so I don’t think this is the year we’ll see true integration, so the new Gemini Nano might be the limit of that effort.
What do you think is the magic of the Pixel 9? Share your thoughts below.
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