Google Launches Pixel 10 Smartphone Series Powered by Gemini

Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet (Alphabet), officially announced its latest smartphones, the Pixel 10 series, at an event held on Wednesday, August 20. The launch comes amid a fierce race among tech giants to deliver the latest advancements in artificial intelligence for mobile devices.

Google is betting on this series to present its vision for the future of smartphones, as it is equipped with the advanced artificial intelligence assistant Gemini, which enables it to perform complex intelligent tasks. Alphabet stated that the phones "are capable of using Google’s AI to perform smart tasks, such as quickly searching for an apartment address on Airbnb when sending a text message requesting it".

The launch included several models, with the base model, Pixel 10, starting at $799 and available in several colors. Meanwhile, the advanced model, Pixel 10 Pro, starts at $999. The Pixel 10 Pro XL model, which comes with a larger screen and a base storage capacity of 256GB, starts at $1199. Google also launched an updated version of its foldable phone, Pixel 10 Pro Fold, with a starting price of $1799. All models include new AI and camera features.

The launch of the phones comes ahead of the expected announcement by Apple (Apple) of new iPhone models in September. Although the market share of Pixel phones "is typically less than 10%", their role goes beyond direct competition; they enable Google to "launch advanced Android features without relying on external hardware manufacturers" and "highlight Google’s vision of how its own Android software compares to the iPhone".

Google's strategy is moving towards making the phone a primary channel for its services, with features that "can serve as a channel for Google’s AI services and subscriptions". This aligns with the vision previously described by the CEO of Google DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, about a universal assistant "that can work seamlessly across any range, mode, or device". Hassabis had told employees in a public meeting last year that "the products themselves will evolve significantly over the next year or two".

One of the standout features included in the new devices is the "Magic Cue" feature, which aims to change the way users interact with their phones. Google described it as an AI product that "provides a new level of personal intelligence and assistance".

The company states that the feature is designed to anticipate user needs, as "when contacting an airline, the 'Magic Cue' shows flight details 'as soon as you call'", adding that the goal is to "anticipate users' needs and suggest 'relevant information and helpful actions based on the context of your phone'".