The Made by Google 2024 event has kicked off, and after a busy rumor mill preceding the event, we have the first round of announcements and reveals from Google’s biggest hardware event of the year. Notably, this year’s edition is preceding Apple’s typical September iPhone reveal, with a focus on AI that anyone watching any tech event in the past couple years is well familiar with.
The event is still being broadcast as you read this, so you can catch up on the livestream right here, which kicked off at 10 a.m. PT. But our team got an advance look at a number of the biggest announcements, so let’s dive right into what the Google Pixel 9 lineup looks like, how Google’s Gemini AI will be incorporated in the devices, and other updates for the Nest, Pixel Watch and Pixel Buds.
Gemini Live launches for Android
Google’s answer to OpenAI’s Advanced Voice Mode is going public — if you’re a Google One AI Premium subscriber. Gemini Live allows for conversational back-and-forths between users and the AI, reacting more realistically to human speech and ideally responding more like a human in turn. Google and OpenAI have both demoed their services over the past few months, though Gemini may have an advantage as our AI expert Kyle Wiggers highlights:
“The architecture of the generative AI model underpinning Live, Gemini 1.5 Pro, has a longer-than-average ‘context window,’ meaning it can take in and reason over a lot of data — theoretically hours of back-and-forth conversations — before crafting a response.”
The Pixel 9 line gets better cameras and a Gemini AI infusion
There are now three phones in the standard Pixel 9 lineup, along with the addition of the Pixel 9 Fold Pro (more on that later). The Pixel 9 and 9 Pro are distinguished by a higher resolution for the latter, while the 9 Pro XL comes in at a bigger size (a 6.8-inch display vs. 6.3 inches), and each comes with Gemini baked-in as the default assistant.
Google already announced the end of Assistant as the default virtual helper for its phones, and it comes alongside a number of other camera and hardware upgrades, which you can roll through in detail right here.
Google’s foldable sequel: The Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Google’s second foldable phone doesn’t reinvent the screen — it just makes it slightly bigger with an 8-inch display when fully opened. It’s thinner, with a larger external display and camera upgrades in line with the rest of the Pixel 9 lineup. It’ll still carry a steep price tag of $1,799, and yes, in case you thought we forgot, it of course comes with Gemini as its assistant. Unfurl the full Fold rundown here.
Google’s Pixel Watch 3 doubles your options
The Pixel Watch previously was only available in a 41 mm size, but this year, the lineup includes a 45 mm model. Both boast a larger display, thanks to the smaller bezels, and twice the brightness. You can get the full rundown here, with the requisite inclusion of AI, though pricing and availability have yet to be announced.
Pixel Buds Pro 2, infused with Gemini
Headphones are a natural fit for virtual assistants, and Google’s hoping to make the Pixel Buds Pro 2 compelling with the addition of Gemini Live, the aforementioned upgrade that makes it more compatible with natural language. They also come with a Tensor A1 chip, a first for Google’s headphones, which enabled a 27% reduction in size. Get a more detailed rundown on the $229 Pixel Buds Pro 2 here.
Nest Thermostats get a long-awaited update
Announced ahead of Made by Google 2024, Nest’s Learning Thermostat is getting its first refresh in nine years, following a difficult past couple years for Nest and the entire smart home category. The pitch for the new Nest is tied to, you guessed it, Gemini AI. Google Assistant will still be the name for the company’s smart home products’ assistants, but Gemini will be used to power more natural language interactions.
Get the full rundown on the new $280 Nest, including its revamped hardware, here.
RIP Chromecast, hello Google TV Streamer
The Chromecast line is officially dead, with its 11-year run ending with the announcement of the Google TV streamer, also ahead of Made by Google. The TV Streamer does a bit more than just stream though, with the ability to act as a smart home hub for Google Home and Matter-powered devices. And, like the Nest, it will stick with Assistant, though some Gemini-powered upgrades are promised. Get the full rundown on the $100 hub here.
Follow along with Made by Google, live
If you’ve come this far and still want to watch the event, or catch up on the archive, you can head here or check out the embed below.
