'Made by Google' Live Blog: Pixel 9, Pixel Watch 3, Android 15 and Gemini

The Made by Google event has just wrapped, and though we thought the Pixel devices were going to take center stage, instead Google featured its Gemini AI features for the majority of the event. They included features that cover everything from relatively simpler tasks, like enhancing images and texts, all the way up to using AI to conduct in-depth research. 

Many of these Gemini AI features are also coming to a wide variety of Android phones when Android 15 launches later this year.

Though this live event is now over, our team is still on the ground and will provide impressions of the new Pixel and Gemini AI features as we get our chance to try them out, so stick around on CNET!

Google is launching Gemini Research for its Gemini Advanced tier in the coming months, which is meant for creating research reports based on questions. In a demo, it shows a prompt for asking for advice on how to open a sidewalk cafe or to find a specific graduate program. It'll then take all the information it finds from its research, and build a report that can be reviewed in a Google Doc.

Osterloh recaps the event. Shows how AI is being built throughout all of Google's tech stack. He's teasing what Google plans to work on with AI. He discusses Project Astra, an AI technology announced at Google I/O earlier this year. This uses computer vision and AI to analyze a situation and give you information, solutions and advice. Osterloh is talking up Gemini's multimodality, or ability to look at data across multiple mediums, to summarize everything for you. Osterloh says this synthesis feature will launch in the next few months for Gemini Advanced users. 

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 have impressive on-paper specs and were dubbed "the first earbuds of the Gemini era." The Pixel Buds Pro 2 supposedly balance audio processing and active noise cancellation while remaining efficient to maximize battery life. Google's solution: use its own chip, the Tensor A1. Supposedly, the AI delivers ultra-low-latency audio processing capabilities that adapt to your environment 3 million times per second -- that's twice as strong as the previous-generation Pixel Buds Pro. Along with two times the noise cancellation as its predecessor, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 have an on-paper eight-hour battery life with ANC, and 30 hours with ANC off. They're also 27% lighter than the previous Pixel Buds Pro. A new twist-to-adjust stabilizer is supposed to improve the fit of the Pixel Buds Pro 2 and prevent them from falling out. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 come with Gemini, so you can use the AI tool on the go. 

Google is introducing new tools to help with balancing workouts and recovery. A readiness score tells you how ready you are to train, based on your sleep, heart rate variability and resting heart rate. The second tool, cardio load, tracks your heart's exertion while you're working out. And the third is a personalized daily target load. The metrics are delivered to your Pixel Watch 3 each morning with a new morning brief.

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 demo is showing a conversation with Gemini, and it sounds much like engaging in an inner monologue or talking to an imaginary friend. After you ask a question, the Gemini assistant narrates in a voice that sounds like it's trying to empathize -- which is both impressive, if it works as shown, and a little scary.

They'll cost $229 and will be available for preorder today. 

Google is doing a live demo of Gemini Live with Pixel Buds Pro 2. You can hold a bud down to ask Gemini questions. Gemini sounds a bit... robotic. 

As part of the Pixel Watch 3 announcement, Google said Peloton workout videos are arriving in the Fitbit Premium subscription. Details weren't immediately available, but this could provide a different way to access Peloton's classes, while also providing access to Fitbit's full list of tracking features.

This is a different approach from Apple, which has its own Apple Fitness Plus video workout service.

A complete rework of the Pixel Buds Pro. The buds use an A1 processor and have better active noise cancellation and more "authentic sound." They're 27% smaller, and they're the lightest ear buds with ANC, Google says. There's a "twist-to-adjust" stabilizer to help them stay securely in your ear. 

The 41mm will start at $349 and the 45mm will start at $399.

Google revealed its Pixel Watch 3, with a potentially useful feature called Hold a Minute. You can use Google's Gemini AI assistant to answer a call but keep it on hold while you find a quiet place to take a call. This could be handy for folks in offices or co-working spaces who want to answer a call but need to get to their office or a phone booth. Or Hold a Minute could let you answer a call but keep it on hold while you ran home from walking your dog on a busy, loud street.

No word on when it might come to the US. 

In emergency situations when the heart can't pump blood effectively, the Pixel Watch 3 can detect a loss of pulse and call emergency medical services. It looks at pulse and motion data and works with an AI that lives on the watch to determine if someone is in trouble. 

A quick mention by Google.

A custom workout builder within the Fitbit app helps makes workouts. The Pixel Watch 3 can also do continuous heart rate tracking. It's also built for heart tracking while running -- tracking that Google says isn't easy. The Pixel Watch 3 can help you improve your running form by looking at your stride length and cadence. Fitbit can sense problems and help you correct your form. 

The Pixel Watch 3 comes in two sizes. There's a 45mm size with 40% more display and 35% more battery. It also has an Actua Display with better efficiency and brightness. The smaller 41mm size has an Actua Display as well. The Pixel Watch can stream your Nest Doorbell, too. Hold a Minute can hold a call for you while you find a quiet place to talk. 

The Pixel 9 starts at $799, a $100 increase from the Pixel 8. The Pixel 9 Pro is $999, also a $100 increase. The Pixel 9 Pro XL will be $1,099. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold will start at $1,799, the same price as last year's model. 

It can pull 32 megapixel photos from any video frame. Google says the Pixel 9 Pro with video boost has been named the highest quality phone for video. Unsure by who.

Google aims to integrate artificial intelligence features into phones and apps in ways that it expects people may use in the real world. While Magic Eraser has been around for a bit now, Google unveiled Magic Editor, which lets you alter images using generative AI. In a live demo, a slanted image was recentered using the auto frame feature. You can also use Magic Editor to add in different elements, like flowers into a grassy field, as Google showed off on stage. The premise of Magic Editor is that anyone can just describe how they'd like to change an image, then AI does the rest. So if your Photoshop skills aren't up to snuff, you can still edit pictures to look how you want. 

It uses new camera hardware, plus Tensor and cloud processing. Video Boost cloud processing gives a substantial video quality boost. And it applies to 20x zoom, which will also have HDR Plus in every frame. 

Six-time NBA all-star Jimmy Butler demonstrated how to use the new Add Me feature to upgrade your group photos. 

Google shows off a live demo of Magic Editor, which allows you to edit photos with AI. Like adding flowers to a field. You can tap on an entire area or zoom in for precise edits. Then you can tell Gemini to add different things, like, for instance, a hot-air balloon. 

The character Joy from the Pixar film Inside Out will be in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold to use the outside screen to help make your kids smile for photos. 

This AI feature lets you add yourself to photos with other people even if you couldn't call take the photo together. 

Pixel Studio is the new AI image generator for the Pixel 9 series. We've seen a similar feature on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and Fold 6, as the feature creates images and graphics based on prompts. In this demo, Google's Alexander Schiffhauer creates a party invitation using some prompts and edits.

Schiffhauer gave RCS texting a quick shout-out, too. He said that the image should arrive in high quality when sent to an iPhone since iOS 18 will add RCS support. Let's hope!

Google says it's improved image quality with the new Pixel 9 devices. This includes better contrast, colors and highlights. This HDR Plus pipeline is coming to panorama photos as well. Image processing includes Night Sight. 

On stage at Made by Google, the company has been using a lot of live demos to showcase the real-world capabilities of its AI. One example was screenshotting a web page with Keke Palmer's book and using Gemini to put that onto a list of gift ideas, rather than leaving a tab up in Chrome on your phone (a practice I'm very guilty of). Keke Palmer interrupted the demo to bring out a copy of her book and give it to the presenter, who'd talked about wanting to get a copy. Palmer's appearance was a fun cameo to punctuate Google's event.

Schiffhauer says iPhone owners will also receive high-quality photos in text messages, thanks to RCS support. 

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold pairs with NFL Sunday ticket and YouTube TV, letting you watch multiple game streams. You can also pull up your messages to chat about the game while you're watching it with a split screen feature.

This live demo shows how quickly Pixel Studio can generate images. A photo of a beach campfire can quickly be modified to add the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. And then remixed to look like cartoon art. 

Keke Palmer shows up to promote her new book.

Google's Pixel phones are notable for providing features that enhance phone calls, so of course Gemini is getting involved in phone calls on the new Pixel 9 line. Among the new features is Call Notes, which activates the Gemini assistant to listen to the call and make a summary to use for reference. The feature will alert everyone on the call, and the analysis of the call stays on the device.

Pixel Screenshots is a new AI-powered app for Pixel 9. As you take screenshots, it'll use AI to analyze what's on the screen. You can then add notes to the screenshots and organize them in folders. 

Google unveiled its new Pixel roster, including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL. The Pixel 9 Pro lets folks snag a handset with improved cameras without stepping up to a large phone that's not as hand-, pocket- or purse-friendly. Because of their Tensor chips, on-device generative AI is promised to run faster than before. The company also says that its Tensor G4 chip boasts more horsepower than previous processors while remaining efficient to reduce battery drain while multitasking. 

Alongside its Pixel 9, 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL, Google released the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. When unfolded, the 9 Pro Fold gives you an 8-inch tablet screen, which Google said pairs well with running NFL Sunday Ticket's multiview for watching multiple NFL football games at the same time in YouTube TV.  

Pixel can start transcribing and summarizing your calls. It'll all stay on your device. 

We have no idea what it was. 

This app will use Gemini Nano to write weather reports based on current data. 

Schiffhauer is the group product manager at Google. He's showing off some demos on Pixel 9. Gemini Nano can create custom weather reports in the weather app. 

Rakowski says that when folded, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold feels like a regular phone. And it opens up to an 8-inch tablet. It'll have the same Tensor G4, a massive upgrade over the original Pixel Fold, and 16GB of RAM. With split screen, you'll be able to watch YouTube while chatting with friends. 

I loved the Google Pixel 3 XL I had for several years, and I was sad to see the branding of the larger Pixel phones disappear behind a "Pro" banner. The last time Google used the XL moniker was with the Pixel 4 XL from 2019. It's nice to see "XL" return now that Google is offering a smaller 6.3-inch Pro model.

There's a new vapor chamber in the Pixel 9 for better heat dissipation. And greater efficiency means 20% better battery life. 

A live demonstration of Gemini Live showed off how you can now have a free-flowing conversation with Gemini. You can interrupt and change the topic being discussed. Gemini Live starts to roll out today and over the next few weeks on Samsung, Pixel and other Android phones and will be available first to Gemini Advanced subscribers.

Rakowski says Tesnor G4 was made with Google DeepMind, the company's AI research team in London. Pixel 9 will have 12GB of RAM whereas the Pixel 9 Pro will have 16GB of RAM.

Rakowski says there will be two new Pixel 9 Pro sizes. A regular and an XL version gives people more options to choose from. 

Rakowski shows off the new Pixel 9 series redesign. 

There are multiple voices. No word on whether there's a voice that sounds like Scarlett Johansson. Gemini Live is rolling out now in English.

Interpersonal communication might be going out the window, as this Google demo is showing how Gemini can draft a letter to a professor on demand. Though several AI tools are already doing this, it's a bit scary to see such a specific request that could completely bypass a student figuring out how to communicate what they need to another person. Especially since it can be generated as quickly as summoning a phone assistant.

Google demonstrated the capabilities of its Gemini AI assistant with live demonstrations, which took a few tries to get right. While attempting to get Gemini to display information from a calendar that would show when a friend was coming to town, the presenter, Dave, encountered a series of demo issues. Dave played it off, quipping, "Let's see if the demo spirits are with us today." Though the demo fails were humorous, they were also sort of relatable for anyone who's used generative AI to create images, text or other items and had unexpected results.

It's a mode in the AI assistant that talks to you. There are multiple voices that sound more natural... but still sort of robotic. 

You'll be able to communicate more naturally with the new Gemini. The AI assistant can draft messages for you, help you brainstorm, and assist you with accessing information across your Gmail and Google calendar.

There's a demo in which Gemini can look at what's happening in a YouTube video to break down what's going on, on the screen -- like foods eaten by a food video blogger. 

This Pixel event is starting to feel like another Google I/O. So much Gemini talk!

There was a hiccup with Gemini using computer vision to see an image of a calendar to then cross-reference it with someone's calendar. It took three tries, but Google got it to work.

She's the VP of user experience at Google, with a focus on Gemini. 

With Gemini Nano, Samat says, the data won't ever leave your phone. This is matching what Apple is doing with Apple Intelligence. 

Samat is the president of Android Ecosystem. He's talking up Gemini's ubiquity across tons of Android devices, not just the top-end phones. 

Google's Gemini AI chatbot relies on the company's Tensor Processing Units. At the core of modern Pixel phones -- like the Pixel 9 -- Tensor chips created in house by Google allow for on-device AI processing using Gemini. The Pixel 9 series boasts a new Tensor G4 chip that supports the Gemini AI assistant. 

Gemini will be at the core of Android, according to Osterloh. The entire stack will have AI integrated throughout. Devices are a part of that stack. Osterloh wants a mobile AI assistant that feels as real as working with a real person. 

Susan Wojcicki was a longtime Googler and former CEO of YouTube. She died last week. 

He's the SVP of hardware and devices, leading Pixel. Osterloh says Google is in the Gemini era, with all teams focusing on AI. 

Let's go!

Taking our seats inside at today's Made by Google event, with our view of the stage.

As we await the start of Made by Google, this sunny table area is available for attendees to eat breakfast.

We're here at Google's headquarters in Mountain View, California, where the Made by Google event will take place. After guests enter, they head to a check-in area for attendees.

The CNET team is arriving at the Made by Google event, and Google is providing a breakfast buffet for attendees that includes options like a breakfast burrito and a chia seed parfait.

After years of Samsung dominating the foldables space, more phone-makers have released their own models in recent years, including Google itself with the first Pixel Fold last year. But with more foldables from Xiaomi and OnePlus, the niche is growing, and expectations have risen for Google's next folding device. Given the company's emphasis on generative AI and the Gemini chat assistant at its I/O conference in May, this could differentiate the next Pixel Fold from the competition. But with Apple supposedly working on its own foldable, it could only be a couple of years before the folding phone niche dramatically changes.

One of the most unusual features on the Pixel 8 Pro was a built-in thermometer -- it was located right next to the cameras. At launch, the thermometer could take the temperature of objects and liquids. Months after its launch, the Pixel 8 Pro was upgraded with the ability to take a person's temperature.

When testing the feature, CNET's Lisa Eadicicco surmised, "I'm still left wondering whether temperature sensing is necessary in a smartphone. The Pixel 8 Pro's new FDA classification makes the temperature sensor's presence more sensible, but I don't see myself using it aside from a few niche circumstances." It will be curious to see if Google keeps the thermometer on the Pixel 9 Pro and if the company adds any more capabilities to it.

While AI on smartphones surely has its benefits, Google managed to frighten me last year when it introduced features such as Best Take and Magic Editor. Even if the latter was an experimental feature, it had reality-bending capabilities that could be executed within minutes. 

That said, I absolutely love the AI-driven productivity enhancements announced with last year's Pixel 8, such as the Recorder app that transcribes audio in real time, and Google has been doing impressive work with accessibility. As we lead into today's Made by Google event, I find myself simultaneously excited and terrified to learn what AI features Google will bring to Pixel screens this year.

When the Google Pixel 8 was released last October, it was unlike any other phone you could buy. Testing it, I realized that the Pixel 8 and its generative AI features offered an early glimpse at how photography, phone calls and even our phone's wallpaper could evolve. In my review, I said that I wouldn't run out and buy a Pixel 8 solely because of these features, but it certainly shows how AI will continue to be integrated into our daily lives. 

I expect Google to build even more AI into the Pixel 9 series, both generative AI and Gemini features. It'll be interesting to see if any of this becomes a reason to buy one phone over the other.

The Google Pixel Fold was a valiant first foray into the foldable space. We loved the passport-style layout and the overall sleek design. The specs? Not so much. One thing's for sure: It's a chunky device. And it seems that Google's next foldable, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, might be slimmer, if rumors are to be believed. 

According to leaked images obtained by 91Mobiles earlier this month, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is looking thinner than its predecessor. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold will measure 10.5mm thick when folded, according to additional leaks obtained by Android Headlines last month. If true, that'll make it thinner than the OnePlus Open -- but not as thin as the Honor Magic V2.

While I'm looking forward to fresh announcements at Made by Google, I still have a gadget the company announced last week on my mind. The new Google TV streamer is a $100 premium device that succeeds the Chromecast. Both allow you to stream apps such as Netflix and YouTube on your TV, but the new device uses Gemini to curate content suggestions across your subscriptions and summarize shows before you hit play.

While the Google TV streamer costs more than a $50 4K-streaming-enabled Chromecast, it also functions as a smart home hub. Upgrading also delivers a better processor and more storage. The Google TV streamer, a competitor to the AppleTV 4K and Roku Ultra, comes out in September. I hope to hear more about it during Tuesday's Pixel show.

Google has openly teased its upcoming Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Fold phones in multiple social media posts. Both will likely include the most advanced AI features available from Google's Gemini. But we really haven't seen much yet from Google about the base Pixel 9.

A couple things we can presume though: It will certainly feature some degree of Google's AI, in the same way that the base Galaxy S24 showcases Samsung's Galaxy AI. It will probably continue to be the smaller phone in the lineup. And it may have a similar Tensor processor to every other phone. But otherwise, we'll have to wait until Tuesday to see what exactly is in store for the base Pixel 9.

So many recent tech keynotes -- including May's Google I/O event -- have focused primarily on AI updates. I hope Made by Google will shift away from that, even a little bit, to highlight other, non-AI improvements coming to its new hardware lineup. I'd love to hear more about the design of devices like the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, for instance, and any performance upgrades for the rumored Pixel Watch 3. It may be wishful thinking, since Google focused solely on Gemini in a teaser for the Pixel 9 Pro, but a girl can dream. Let's bring back fun hardware reveals at these events.

Like we saw at the developer-focused Google I/O and Apple WWDC events earlier this year, generative AI is poised to take the spotlight at Made by Google -- notably, the company's own Gemini AI chatbot. At Google I/O in May, the term "AI" was used over 120 times, and we wouldn't be surprised to hear it as often, if not more, at Made By Google. In a July 18 post on X (formerly Twitter), Google revealed its plans to unveil "A phone built for the Gemini era." We're hoping Google will learn from its confusing I/O event, taking a page out of Apple's (Mac) book by making its AI and non-AI announcements digestible.

Google's aptly named Made By Google hardware and software showcase is coming on Aug. 13. The tech giant is slated to unveil a fresh roster of Pixel 9 phones, including the Pixel 9 Fold and Pixel 9 Pro. There's also a chance we may see devices such as the Pixel Buds Pro 2 or the Pixel Watch 3. On the software side, we'll learn about Android 15's new features and discover Google's AI innovations.

Made by Google happens on Tuesday, Aug. 13, at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET). The keynote takes place in-person in Mountain View, California, but will be available as a livestream that you can watch from anywhere.