Google rolled out 9 new options for Android gadgets, together with a number of generative synthetic intelligence (AI)-based options, on Monday, February 26. The announcement of the options has coincided with the primary day of the Cellular World Congress (MWC) 2024. The spotlight among the many options is the mixing of Gemini, the corporate’s newest AI-powered chatbot, into the Messages app. Whereas it’s at the moment in beta testing, the tech large has begun rolling out different options for smartphones, Android Auto, and Put on OS.
The announcement was made through a post on Google’s Newsroom, which highlighted that these new options are aimed toward bettering productiveness of customers. Gemini’s integration with Google Messages is an fascinating growth by the corporate. Customers who’ve enrolled in Google’s beta testing programme ought to quickly see it. The characteristic provides a separate chat field for Gemini the place they will have a dialog, ask queries, get it to write down or rewrite messages and far more. With this replace, Gemini is out there as a standalone app, as digital assistant, and inside the Messages app. It’s not sure whether or not the characteristic will probably be included within the Gemini Superior plan as soon as it’s out of testing.
Messages app is just not the one place the place AI is being added, nonetheless. Android Auto can also be getting an analogous characteristic the place generative AI can summarize lengthy texts or group chats and skim it out whereas the consumer drives. It’ll additionally recommend related replies and actions that may be chosen through only a single faucet.
One accessibility characteristic can also be being added to the Lookout app. The app is designed for visually impaired customers and might establish objects, learn texts, and extra via the smartphone’s digital camera. It’ll now mechanically create AI-generate captions for pictures seen on-line or acquired via messages and skim it out to customers. It’s rolling out globally in English. In the identical vein, Google Maps can also be getting an replace to Lens in Maps, which was first added in October 2023. Customers can now level the cellphone’s digital camera at environment and the TalkBack characteristic will learn the place’s data out loud, together with its enterprise hours, ranking or instructions on get there.
Just a few non-AI options are additionally making their debut. Essentially the most notable is the handwritten annotation characteristic for Google Docs on Android. This may permit customers to write down and draw with both fingers or stylus on paperwork to create notes for themselves. The second is a tweak to the output switcher for Spotify, which permits customers to select the machine the place the output of the sound will come from. This will now be completed instantly from the house display.
Lastly, shifting to the Put on OS-based options. Google is now rolling out an replace to its Well being Join app that can permit customers with wearables comparable to Fitbit, Oura Ring, and apps comparable to AllTrails and MyFitnessPal to combine their information. The app will present detailed view of well being and health trackers and can present actionable insights on them.
Final two Wear OS options are smaller however could be helpful for some customers. Google Pockets passes at the moment are out there on Put on OS smartwatches and can permit customers to entry them instantly. Google Maps for Put on OS will now present public transit instructions to assist customers catch a bus or a practice. The app will present particulars comparable to departure instances, compass-guided navigation, and choice to mirror instructions from cellphone to the smartwatch.
For particulars of the newest launches and information from Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus, Oppo and different corporations on the Cellular World Congress in Barcelona, go to our MWC 2024 hub.
