This headline was not written by Google AI (although it should have been)

Artificial intelligence, artificial intelligence and more artificial intelligence. That is the best way to summarize Google‘s annual “Made by Google” event, which took place recently. The star of the show? Artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence in your phone, artificial intelligence in your headphones, and artificial intelligence anywhere artificial intelligence can exist, like your watch. Oh, and did I mention artificial intelligence?

The whole event was so packed with talk about artificial intelligence that I wanted to ask: “Google, RU, ok?”

First, the company announced a new range of Pixel phones powered by the Tensor G4 processors designed to special to run the company’s AI models and not necessarily for raw performance.

So there’s the Pixel 9, the Pixel 9 Pro, the Pixel 9 Pro XL AND a foldable model called the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, all of which run built-in AI that can supposedly understand text, images and audio. CoolThis will definitely be a great innovation and not an opportunity for Google to collect even more data about us.

Then there are the Pixel Buds Pro 2, the Google says are the first earbuds “built for Gemini.” While they aren’t necessarily powered by an AI chip, the earbuds allow you to have a hands-free conversation with Gemini and use it as an AI assistant even when your phone is locked and in your pocket. Cool. Headphones that always listen to you. Exactly what we wanted.

And did someone say smartwatch? Google’s new Pixel Watch 3 is designed to use machine learning to automatically detect a user’s sleep and turn off notifications at bedtime. OK, I admit, that sounds pretty useful.

But the AI-powered features aren’t just limited to the hardware the company will soon release. In fact, the company now wants to re-engineer Android with Gemini as its core focus, hoping to reach a significant portion of the billions of people whose phones come pre-installed with the operating system.

“We are integrating AI into everything we do,” says Google said in a blog post that should tell you everything you need to know about the company’s focus. “For AI to be truly helpful, it should fit naturally into our everyday lives, and the best place to experience that is on your Android device,” Google added.

So what does this mean? Google says it’s redesigned the assistance experience with Gemini to better understand users, and it’s now possible to display the Gemini overlay on top of an app so users can ask questions in real time.

And if you give Gemini access to your personal files, including your emails, it can even create a personalized workout plan for you based on, say, your conversations with a personal trainer. But that’s nothing to worry about for me, because all of your personal information stays safe and private…with Google potentially using it to sell you things.

Anyway, that is all well and good, but why the strong focus on AI this year? Well, for one thing, the obvious reasons. Artificial intelligence is a huge thing (thanks, ChatGPT), and Google has already made several blunders that it wants to put behind it (glue on pizza, anyone?).

But it also shows that the company is competing on several fronts: against Apple‘s iPhone, the Tim Cook believes can woo customers thanks to deep AI integrations or meta-AI that is actually integrated into EVERYTHING MetaOffers, especially Instagrambut also WhatsApp (used by over a billion people around the world) and on facebook. Messenger.

Apple actually has a head start on AI processors compared to Google, while Meta seems to be banking on the idea that users won’t have to leave the company’s apps to use generative AI. That’s why the Meta AI Assistant is so readily available in the company’s apps.

Meanwhile, the impending launch of SearchGPT and the proliferation of Perplexity pose a threat to Google’s dominance in the search space and require the company to continue investing in technologies and capabilities that will enable it to compete against new entrants.

The new phones (Google has negligible influence on phone hardware, by the way) and the redesign of Android could be the first of many serious attempts by the company to collect data that can help it refine its models. Will AI models get better, or will they be commercialized? My bet is the latter.

This was your summary of “Made by Google”.

Google parent company Alphabet ranked 9th in HackerNoon’s Tech Company Rankings this week.

More news… 📰

• New Binance CEO sees no need for IPO as he maps out 100-year strategy for crypto exchanges — via CoinDesk
• Dropbox acquires Index Ventures-backed AI planning tool Reclaim.ai – via TechCrunch
• Elon Musk’s AI photo tool creates realistic, fake images of Trump, Harris and Biden – via CNN
• The big tech companies want AI to be regulated. Why are they against an AI law in California? — via Reuters
• The lame AI meme election – via Axios
• Startup that uses blockchain to prevent copyright infringement through AI is valued at over $2 billion after new funding – via CNBC

And that’s it! Don’t forget to share this newsletter with your family and friends! See you next week. PEACE! ☮️

— Shehariyar KhanEditor, Business Tech @ HackerNoon

*All rankings are current as of Monday. To see how the rankings have changed, please visit HackerNoon’s Rankings of technology companies Page.

Tech, What the Heck!? is a once-weekly newsletter from the HackerNoon editors that combines HackerNoon’s proprietary data with breaking tech stories from around the internet. Humorous and insightful, the newsletter summarizes current events shaping the world of technology. Subscribe Here.