STORY: Google has a new salesman for its updated Pixel phones.
Talk show host Jimmy Fallon joined company Vice President Rick Osterloh on stage Wednesday for the launch of the products:
FALLON: “What’s next for AI in phones?”
OSTERLOH: “What we’re trying to do is we’re trying to make your phone more personal and proactive. And so it doesn’t just like, wait and listen to your requests. It starts to anticipate them because it knows what you’re trying to do. We call this personal intelligence, and you’ll hear a lot more about that concept today.”
The “Made by Google” event in New York saw the debut of new Pixel phones and other gadgets including watches.
The upgrades on show were largely modest, but the tech giant was keen to tout progress on incorporating AI.
That includes a “coach” in the camera app to help users take better pictures.
There’s also a digital assistant that can display relevant information before a user even asks for it, such as a flight confirmation email when they call an airline.
Google exec Adrienne Lofton also showed off new magnetic charging cables reminiscent of Apple’s:
FALLON: “You said the A-word. Can we talk about Apple?”
LOFTON: “I did say the A-word.”
FALLON: “You did, you said it.”
LOFTON: “I believe deeply that at Pixel, we are confident in our product and in our brand, and we love everybody in the game so we can say anyone’s name we want on stage.”
FALLON: “That’s what I’m talking about.”
The Pixel 10 and related models go on sale later this month, with a folding version available from October.
Prices are unchanged from the previous generation.
Google has struggled to win sales for its phones, with data firm IDC estimating it had a global market share of just over 1% in the second quarter.
The vast majority of those sales come in just three markets – the U.S., UK and Japan.
