Alexander Lewis
May 15, 2024
Google I/O, the annual developer conference, took place on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at the Coastal Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. This year's event was all about artificial intelligence (AI), with Google announcing a range of new AI products and features that will change the way we interact with technology.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai revealed that the keynote emphasised the focus on AI. The event includes important updates announced.
Gemini 1.5 Flash
Google announced a new AI model called Gemini 1.5 Flash, optimised for speed and performance. It sits between the Gemini 1.5 Pro and Gemini 1.5 Nano models, offering a lighter and less expensive option for developers to develop AI-powered apps and services.
Project Astra
Google showcased Project Astra, an early version of its AI-powered universal assistant. In the demo, the user has a natural conversation with the app, pointing his camera at different objects and asking questions. The app even pinpointed exactly where the user left their glasses without prompting.
Read more: Google I/O 2024: Unveiling the future with AI and Android 15
Ask Google Photos
Google Photos is getting an upgrade with AI; users will be able to ask complex questions like "Show me the best photo of every national park I've visited" and generate captions for social media.
Big updates to Google Search
Google search is undergoing a significant change with AI. Users will be able to ask complex questions and use search to plan meals and vacations. AI reviews will also place AI-generated answers at the top of search results by default.
Gemini on Android
Google is integrating Gemini directly into Android, where users will be able to get contextual questions and information from Gemini, making it easier to work with.
Other updates at Google I/O 2024
Google also announced digital watermarks for AI-generated video and text, Gemini accessibility in Gmail and Docs, a virtual AI teammate in Workspace, and more.
Google I/O 2024 showcased the company's focus on AI, with a range of new products and features that will improve the user experience. From Gemini 1.5 Flash to Project Astra and major updates to Google Search, AI is taking centre stage at Google.
