Pichai talks about the combo of teams into Google DeepMinds, saying that the teams contributed to many breakthroughs in #AI that led to the "inflection point where we are today."
Goes on to talk about Gemini that's still in development.
Mentions AI responsibility — having tools to identify synthetic content where you encounter it, such as watermarking. Pichai says moving forward all content will include watermarking and other info. Also, talks about metadata included in AI images. #googleio
Google Bard: Supports wide range of programming capabilities, gotten smarter at prompts and math problems. Now fully running on PaLM 2.
Now demo time to learn what's coming...
Sissie Hsiao (VP & GM, Assistant) on stage.
Bard can now collaborate on code generation, debugging and explaining code snippets. Learned more than 20 programming languages.
starting next week: code citations will be improved.
Google is launching two export features: Letting you export responses into Docs and Gmail.
In a way, yo u could do something similar with Bing/Edge/ChatGPT.
Announcing Bard+tools, meaning you can have extensions...so what you can do with ChatGPT. Starting with Google apps you use and love today.
Plus, Google is improving the UI so it's pulling from Photos and Knowledge Graph to present something visually better.
Google Lens is also coming to Bard — ask Bard to write funny captions of your doggos.
Example of Bard's extensions including integration with Adobe Firefly (Adobe's generative #AI tool)
Google is really going hard after OpenAI and ChatGPT right now with extension support.
Will it be enough?
GOOGLE REMOVES WAITLIST FOR BARD.
Bard now supports Japanese and Korean languages.
Google Workspace updates up next...talking about how you can collaborate with AI now.
"Help Me Write" is a big part of the updates.
#AI will soon provide you with prompts to help you write. It'll scan details from your document to generate images, suggested content, and more.
"Help me write" and "Duet AI" features are great but how much will these move the needle in Google's fight against OpenAI and Microsoft?
It really seems that Google is just leveraging its existing products. Its native apps are doing much of the heavy-lifting here.
These aren't bad updates...just not that major of a reveal IMO.
Sundar Pichai is back on stage at #GoogleIO.
Introducing Labs, a "new" program at google.com/labs.
The way we search is not as conversational — you have to do a lot of heavy lifting, parsing through multiple links and queries.
But now search with #AI does the work for you...this resembles what Microsoft has with Bing/GPT. Hmm...
New experience builds on Google's rank and search systems.
Google has reimagined its search results page thanks to #AI, powered by not only its Knowledge Graph but also its Images database and Shopping Graph. Perhaps this is compelling enough to make this appealing.
But how does this update impact SEO and organic search results? I wonder if Google will provide answers and insights to marketers and businesses who could see their traffic drop considerably.
This new experiment, called "SGE" is available in Google Labs today.
Pichai with the philosophical question: Is a hot dog a sandwich?
Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian on stage talking about bringing #AI into the enterprise cloud space, highlights Vertex AI offering.
Google Cloud has a data-sharing feature with Salesforce to bring Einstein AI data into its platform to power Vertex AI.
Three new #AI models are being added to Cloud:
Imagen: image generation
Codey: code generation
Chirp: universal speech model
Also adding reinforcement learning into Vertex — incorporating human feedback to improve model's results.
Josh Woodward, Senior Director of Product Management, Labs at Google, on stage to talk about PaLM 2.
Woodward says Wendy's is using PaLM 2 in its app to help get customer orders accurate.
Woodward talks about "Project Tailwind," an AI-powered notebook...creates private and personalized AI model based on info you give it.
Almost like a smart-form of Evernote or OneNote.
Project Tailwind is still in early days. It was originally created for students but has a broader audience. Your notes could include citations pulling from your personal sources you allow the AI to read.
Google announces a feature to help you locate hidden trackers (remember those stories about Apple AirTag being used to stalk people?).
Unknown tracker alerts will work across all smartphones.
Coming later this summer.
OMG shade at iPhone...
"When you're talking on a group chat, you shouldn't have to worry about what phone they're on..."
Another RCS plug — over 800 million MAU on Messages using RCS. Targeting 1 billion by end of the year.
"We hope every mobile operating system gets the message and adopts RCS."
Gee...pot shot at Apple.
David Burke: "Your phone should be made to feel it was made for you."
Magic compose feature is coming to Google Messages and you can choose how you want to sound (more positivity, professional, rhyming, or in the style of a playwrite).
More customized lock screen features including clock and wallpaper are coming for Android 14.
As for emojis: You can include them as your wallpaper — choose fave ones and create pattern.
New cinematic wallpaper feature lets you create 3D image from your favorite image and turn it into a wallpaper.
Under the hood, using neural networks to understand depth and mood.
With generative AI wallpapers, you choose what inspires you and the AI creates it for you. Uses text-to-image AI model to create these wallpapers for your phone.
Time for the Pixel hardware announcements!
Osterloh: Google Pixel is the only phone with #AI in the center, literally, thanks to the G2 chip...Pixel delivers truly personal AI.
This personal AI enables all the helpful experiences Pixel is known for that isn't available on other devices, like Call Assist, Pixel Speech, and Pixel Safe.
Google introduces the Pixel 7a with 8GB of RAM, highest rated camera — 72% bigger main camera sensor.
Pixel 7a is available today for $499!
Google Pixel 7a will come in an exclusive "corral" color.
Oh, and let's talk about other Pixel form factors...
The Google Pixel Tablet has a charging dock, giving it a home and making it available 24/7.
When docked, it can turn into a photo frame, a smart home manager, and shared home device. Plus, with ultra-fast fingerprint sensor, can get immediate access to favorite apps.
Google Home is getting a redesign.
Next up: The Pixel Fold.
Kind of bold for Rick Osterloh to say that we've seen foldables take off over the past few years...
Have they though? Microsoft's Duo hasn't done that well and the only "major" ones are from Samsung.
Pixel Fold: 3 times the screen space as a regular phone with a 7.6-inch display, fluid-friction free hinge (extensively tested).
Pixel Fold can use both displays for dual screen interpreter mode.
Google marketing is earning their wages today...the YouTube video is already displaying links to buy the new hardware devices.
I can see the seam on the Pixel Fold...thought it wasn't so visible...
Random audience cheer when "help me write" feature about to be demoed on the Pixel Fold.
"Don't cheer me yet...let's hope it works."
Well that's honest...
@thekenyeung It's maddening to hear prattle about a #GoogleHome "redesign" when their existing branded products don't work reliably. My Nest & Home speakers have always been buggy, but both abruptly stopped working with my and my partners' Pixel 4a's a few months ago (likely after a Play Services update). Reported it twice, and have tried without success to debug it (from the usual reset/reload everything voodoo, to poring over adb logcat output). I can still cast to and control them from a Samsung tablet, and they still work as voice-activated speakers, but I have no confidence that any other Home products will be worth my time. (And at least I didn't pay for these speakers, but had received them as promotional giveaways.)
Rants aside, thanks for your reporting on the #io2023 show!
Ken Yeung
Ozzie D, NP-hard 
