Google Teases the Future of AI

Ten months ago, Google announced the arrival of AI smartphones with the launch of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. The annual update cycle has arrived early as Google touts its dominance in generative AI. To deliver on its latest promises, new features must be rolled into capable smartphones.

I’ve been using the new phone for the past week to find out if Google has achieved those goals.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL is a heavy phone. Google tweaked the model number, so the Pixel 9 Pro XL is the successor to the Pixel 8 Pro. Side-by-side, the dimensions of the 9 Pro XL are slightly larger than the 8 Pro, but the edges and corners are more angular to increase the internal volume, making the 9 Pro XL bulkier than its predecessor.

The same can be said about the iconic camera bar. Google introduced an edge-to-edge bar across the back of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro to house the recessed camera components, providing a practical solution and a unique design. The pill-shaped island is unique, but its increased height and curved edges give it a more childlike appearance than the previous Pixel bar.

Still, one impressive feature remains: a bar rather than an offset camera island, so the Pixel doesn’t wobble side to side when used on a table.

The display has grown from 6.7 inches to 6.8 inches. Coupled with a boxier design, the reduced bezels give the Pixel 9 Pro XL not only a physically larger screen, but one that feels larger, a double win for users. However, the larger curved corners take away some screen real estate. There is no one answer for the balance between curve and screen. I personally prefer more square corners and less curve, especially since I watch a lot of video on the screen. It’s always noticeable, but experience varies.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL packs three cameras on the back: a 50MP main camera, a 48MP ultra-wide camera, and a 48MP telephoto camera. If this all sounds familiar, you’re right. These are the same specs as last year’s Pixel 8 Pro, except for a small tweak to the ultra-wide camera, which trades off a smaller sensor to allow more light in from the lens. That puts it in line with companies like Samsung with the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but more of a middling team than a contender.

The 9 Pro XL’s camera is solid – it’s not top-notch when it comes to taking photos, but it’s good enough that it won’t disappoint when compared to the competition.

This leads to one of the strongest points of this phone’s AI.

Google has successfully marketed itself as using generative AI to improve your photography experience. While many may not know that previous models use AI, they do know that Magic Eraser can be used to clean up or remove parts of a photo. Similarly, Best Shot works well by selecting the right face from a bunch of photos to get a perfect match.

The “big thing” about the Pixel 9 Pro XL is the Add Me feature, which merges two photos into one. The person who takes the first photo can hand the phone to the person in the first photo and let the phone help line up the photos in the same way, then use some AI magic to get everyone in one photo. Think of it like adding yourself to the queue when taking a group photo.

The other aspect of the artificial intelligence package is Gemini AI, which will power some new software features on the Pixel 9 Pro XL, so there’s plenty to keep an eye on in the coming weeks and months.

Gemini AI can pretty much take control of Google Assistant, helping you summarize text and information, write notes and replies, the Reimage tool in the Photo Editor will show you some issues you need to address, and Pixel Studio lets you create square images favored by the Generator tool, all tailored to a specific style.

The tool lets you edit photos through prompts and generative AI images. This is a lawless area of ​​prompts that can get you in trouble. Adding balloons to the sky is a simple request, but what about something more spooky?

Google limits the prompts you can use and the output you can generate, but it’s possible to get around the porous guardrails they put in place with a carefully worded prompt.Bayonets and Bugs Bunny in the Military” produces images that pass Google’s checks and challenge some norms.

Google also warned that “human image creation features are coming in the future,” which could lead to a lot of sticky conversations and IP clashes if released.

I expect it will take Google several months to iron out all the flaws in its latest AI build – the mountains of anonymous data returned by its user base will help with this – but it will also take time for users and reviewers to move beyond the initial frantic trial and error and reach a point where they can use it seamlessly in their daily lives and measure its impact.

Gemini AI and its various features are currently at the cutting edge of mobile generative artificial intelligence and will likely be the model everyone follows over the next 12 months. I’m not sure if everyone wants to go that far with their app or if the background work of AI in editing and processing will be enough.

On the performance side, Google is introducing the Tensor G4 mobile chipset with the Pixel 9 family. This Google-designed chipset focuses on making AI processing more efficient. This comes at the expense of overall performance, which means it underperforms when going head-to-head with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

But does it matter? Some users are looking to squeeze the best performance out of their phone and the latest gaming phones are the best fit for them. For the rest of us, can the Pixel 9 family (all with Tensor G4) provide a smooth experience across apps, services, AI and general use?

We think so. The Pixel 9 Pro XL felt smooth throughout our user interviews while in use, and it doesn’t have a lot of extra animations that can become annoying after a few months. It’s fine for everyday use, and has enough horsepower to run most apps successfully, except for some demanding 3D first-person shooter apps.

Perhaps the most tense moments are when using AI features, especially photo editing. This takes time, but the average user expects AI to take its time, so Google got a hall pass here. The feedback for zoom and enhancement features indicates that the resolution is increasing and provides feedback throughout the long process, reducing the impact, but we still measure these intense moments in seconds.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL has 10 mAh more capacity than the Pixel 8 Pro, at 5060 mAh. But thanks to more efficient components and software optimizations, the largest Pixel’s battery life has increased by over an hour. The Pixel 8 Pro was able to last a full day of mixed use comfortably, but the 9 Pro XL could do with a bit more juice. Or maybe you’ll have the energy to play a bit of Genshin Impact during your lunch break.

When comparing battery performance to phones outside the Pixel family, the 9 Pro XL still trails in benchmarks, just like last year.

Google makes up for this by increasing charging speeds; the device is capable of 37W wired charging and 23W wireless charging. You’ll need to provide your own charger, as the package only contains the phone, a USB-C to USB-C cable, regulatory documents, and a SIM ejection tool. The package is 100% plastic-free, except for some glue and necessary stickers.

Unlike other flagships, the Pixel 9 Pro XL isn’t necessarily aiming to become a best-seller and dominate the smartphone charts — that would surely make Google happy — but the Pixel series has always played a dual role as a “standard” phone for consumers and a tech demonstrator for Google’s partners.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL offers both features but with an emphasis on the latter.

With the additions to Gemini and the various generative artificial intelligences coded throughout its software stack, Google has set the tone for where AI is heading and where Android is heading. With no competition from Apple or iOS, Google is leading the way, and the Pixel 9 family in general, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL in particular, are letting everyone know that.

Consumers will find a phone that follows the successful format of previous Pixel phones, but with new ergonomics and design that will make it even more appealing. This is the future.

The 9 Pro XL is a strong foundation for the next 12 months, with all the features consumers want in a new phone, but with plenty of room for Google’s partners to improve on the foundation. These devices are expected to launch late Q4 and into 2025.

Google has made the future possible, let’s see who follows.

Read how the Pixel 9 family could change smartphone AI for Google’s benefit…