Google I/O has concluded, and it was filled with exciting AI announcements. The event, as anticipated, centred around Google’s Gemini AI models and their integration into applications like Workspace and Chrome.
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If you missed the live broadcast, you can catch up on all the latest updates from Google in our comprehensive roundup below.
Google Unveils Gemini 1.5 Flash: Faster AI for Focused Tasks
Google’s AI family just got bigger with the introduction of Gemini 1.5 Flash. This new model boasts the same power as its sibling, Gemini 1.5 Pro, but with a focus on speed.
Flash excels at handling “narrow, high-frequency, low-latency tasks,” making it ideal for situations where quick responses are crucial.
The existing Gemini 1.5 Pro also received an upgrade, with its context window doubling from 1 million to 2 million tokens. This allows it to process and understand a wider range of information, potentially improving its performance in tasks like translation, reasoning, and code generation.
Google Workspace Gets Smarter with Gemini 1.5 Pro Integration
Get ready for a supercharged Workspace! Google is integrating its powerful AI model, Gemini 1.5 Pro, directly into the sidebar of Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, and Gmail.
Starting next month, paid Workspace subscribers will experience a smarter and more helpful Workspace. Gemini 1.5 Pro transforms into a general-purpose assistant within your workflow.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Effortless Information Retrieval: No more switching between apps! Gemini 1.5 Pro can access and analyze all your content across your Drive, providing instant insights and information retrieval directly within the app you’re working in.
- Intelligent Automation: Boost your productivity with automated tasks. Imagine Gemini 1.5 Pro composing emails that seamlessly incorporate information from your current document or setting reminders to follow up on important emails.
Google Photos Gets Super Smart with “Ask Photos”
Remember that embarrassing childhood photo or that amazing vacation you can’t quite place? Struggling to find specific moments in your ever-growing Google Photos library is a thing of the past. Google is introducing “Ask Photos,” a revolutionary new feature powered by their AI model, Gemini.
“Ask Photos” goes far beyond just searching for pictures of dogs and cats. It allows you to ask natural language questions about your photos, and Gemini will do the heavy lifting. Imagine asking “What was my license plate number in 2019?” and getting the answer instantly, along with the corresponding photo for confirmation – just like Google CEO Sundar Pichai demonstrated!
“Ask Photos” unlocks the full potential of your Google Photos library. Whether you’re searching for specific events, people, places, or even details within photos, Gemini can help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
Google Lens Gets an Upgrade: Search Anything with Video
Google Lens is evolving, offering the ability to search using videos. This exciting update allows you to capture a video of anything that piques your curiosity. Need to identify a plant you just saw on a walk? Curious about a specific architectural style in a travel video? Simply record a short video and Google Lens will spring into action.
But it doesn’t stop there! You can also ask a question directly within the video recording. Google’s powerful AI will analyse the video content and your spoken query to provide relevant search results from the web. This multimodal approach offers a more natural and engaging way to search for information.
Google Unveils Project Astra: A Multimodal AI Assistant for the Real World
Get ready to meet your new digital sidekick! Google has unveiled Project Astra, a revolutionary AI assistant designed to seamlessly integrate into your life.
Project Astra goes beyond typical voice assistants. This multimodal marvel uses your device’s camera to see and understand the world around you. Imagine an assistant that remembers where you left your keys, understands what you point your camera at, and can even take action based on your needs.
Project Astra is the driving force behind many of Google I/O’s most impressive demos. Its potential is vast, aiming to become a true AI agent that transcends conversation and actively assists you in everyday tasks.
Project Astra represents a significant leap forward in AI technology. It promises an intuitive and powerful assistant that can not only understand your needs but also take initiative to make your life easier. The future of human-computer interaction is here, and Project Astra is paving the way.
Google Unveils Veo: AI-Powered Video Creation for Everyone
Move over, storyboards! Google introduces Veo, a groundbreaking generative AI model that transforms text, images, and even video clips into stunning 1080p videos. Veo empowers creators of all levels. Simply provide a text prompt describing your vision, or use an image or existing video as a starting point. Veo takes care of the rest, crafting high-definition videos that match your artistic style. From breathtaking aerial shots to captivating timelapses, Veo offers a diverse range of cinematic techniques to bring your ideas to life.
Veo allows you to refine your video with additional prompts. Need a slightly different mood or want to adjust the pacing? Veo gives you the creative control to achieve your desired outcome.
Veo isn’t just for YouTubers. Google is showcasing its potential in Hollywood, where it could revolutionize the filmmaking process. Imagine streamlining storyboards or creating stunning special effects – Veo offers a powerful toolset for professional filmmakers.
Circle to Search can help solve math problems now
If you’re using an Android phone or tablet, you can now circle a math problem on your screen and receive assistance in solving it. While Google’s AI won’t solve the problem for you — preventing students from cheating on their homework — it will break it down into steps to make it easier to understand and complete.
Search Evolved: Google Introduces AI Overviews
Get ready for a smarter search experience! Google is rolling out “AI Overviews” (formerly Search Generative Experience) to all US users this week. AI Overviews leverage a specialized Gemini AI model to curate your search results. Similar to advanced search tools like Perplexity or Arc Search, you’ll see summarized answers directly on the search results page, pulling key information from the web. This allows you to quickly grasp the gist of a topic and make informed decisions on which links to explore further.
AI Overviews streamline your research process. Imagine getting concise, AI-generated summaries alongside traditional search links. This empowers you to find relevant information faster and delve deeper into the topics that matter most.
Android gets AI-powered scam detection
Google is introducing a powerful new feature to combat those pesky scam calls. Leveraging the on-device processing power of Gemini Nano, a streamlined version of their AI, your phone will become a guardian against robocalls.
Imagine receiving a notification mid-call, discreetly alerting you to a potential scam. Gemini Nano analyses conversation patterns in real-time, identifying red flags associated with known scam tactics. This empowers you to make informed decisions about answering the call or letting it go to voicemail.
