With iPhone 17 Set to Launch Next Week, Google Doubles Down on ‘AI Phones’ With Pixel 10 Series — Here’s Everything We Know
By Shuaib S. Agaka
Apple is expected to unveil its iPhone 17 lineup next week, but rival Google is already making waves with the Pixel 10 series, doubling down on its strategy to build the world’s first true “AI phones.”
Unveiled during Wednesday’s Made by Google event, the Pixel 10 lineup showcases deep integration of Google’s AI platform, powered by its Tensor G5 processor and running the newest Gemini Nano model. Google isn’t just competing with Apple’s hardware polish—it’s aiming to redefine what smartphones can do by embedding AI into every layer of the user experience.
Among the headline features is Magic Cue, a proactive assistant that delivers real-time contextual suggestions across apps like Gmail, Calendar, and Messages. Borrowing inspiration from the long-retired Google Now, Magic Cue surfaces reminders, suggests restaurants, or even helps manage errands—all directly within the apps you already use.
The Gemini Live assistant also gets a major update, with a new audio model that can detect the user’s tone—whether excited or worried—and adjust responses accordingly. Paired with a Visual Overlays feature, Gemini Live can analyze what your camera sees, highlighting objects on screen or even interpreting foreign street signs on the go.
Photography is another area where Google is betting big. The new Camera Coach will teach users how to frame shots better, while “Auto Best Take” blends multiple images to produce the perfect group photo. AI editing tools, including the Ask Photos assistant, will allow users to fix lighting, reframe shots, or erase unwanted objects with a simple voice command.
Perhaps the most ambitious new tool is Voice Translate, which promises real-time, natural-sounding translations during phone calls in over a dozen languages, using AI to replicate each speaker’s voice. If it works as advertised, it could be a breakthrough for both business and travel users.
Other additions include Pixel Journal, an AI-powered journaling app, real-time transcripts with “Take a Message,” and deeper AI integration across Gboard, Pixel Studio, and Notebook LM.
While Apple prepares its usual cycle of design tweaks and camera upgrades, Google is betting that AI-first hardware will finally shift the conversation from “better phones” to “smarter phones.”
