Google debuts $499 Pixel 8a as it pushes generative AI to more consumers

May 10, 2024

27 3 minutes read

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Google (GOOG, GOOGL) is bringing its generative AI smarts to a broader audience with the debut of its new Pixel 8a smartphone on Tuesday. The phone, which starts at $499, comes with many of the generative AI features found on its pricier Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 devices, including photo and video editing capabilities.

Google says the 6.1-inch Pixel 8a will get access to the company’s Gemini generative AI chatbot, as well as generative AI-powered features such as Best Take and Circle to Search. The company also says users will eventually get access to Gemini Nano, a smaller version of the Gemini large language model that runs directly on the Pixel 8a, in a future update.

The standard version of Gemini requires an internet connection so it can process your requests through Google’s cloud servers. Gemini Nano runs directly on your device, allowing it to perform certain generative AI tasks without accessing the web.

Google has debuted its new Pixel 8a smartphone, bringing its generative AI features to a broader audience. (Image: Google) (Google)

The Pixel 8a packs Google’s latest Tensor G3 chip, 128GB of storage with an option to upgrade to 256GB, and a new 120-hertz display for smoother gaming and scrolling. There’s also a 64-megapixel wide-angle camera with Super Res Zoom that simulates a telephoto lens and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide camera.

Google previously rolled out a number of the Pixel 8a’s generative AI features alongside the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro in October. The standout AI offering is Magic Editor, which allows you to remove unwanted people and objects from images or move them around your photo by simply circling them. I could, for instance, change a photo of myself to make it look like I was dunking a basketball, something I could never do, or edit out a passerby who got in my shot to make it appear as though they were never there.

Circle to Search is a similarly interesting feature that allows you to circle an object in an image and instantly look for it online via Google search. The idea is to make it easier to find products you’ve seen in a photo and purchase them online. You can also highlight text in an image to quickly search for it via Google, as well.

Then there’s Best Take, which is meant for use with group photos. When you take a picture, Best Take will grab a series of images of everyone’s face. If someone blinked in the shot, you can use Best Take to swap out the person’s face with one of the shots in which they didn’t blink. Best Take only changes the person’s face, not their body.

There’s also Magic Audio Eraser, which helps you cut out background noise in your videos and better isolate the sound of the main subject.

All of this is part of Google’s effort to turn its generative AI offerings into compelling consumer features that will drive device sales across its Android line of smartphones. The company has also teamed up with Samsung to bring some of the same capabilities to that company’s Galaxy S24 line of phones.

Generative AI is seen as the next catalyst to push smartphone sales forward, but there’s still no specific app that is pushing consumers to get out and buy new AI-powered phones. That said, Google is preparing to host its annual Google I/O developer conference on May 14, where it could debut new, truly must-have generative AI features for its Android devices.

Google rival Apple (AAPL) is also preparing to reveal a raft of generative AI capabilities for its various products during its WWDC event in June.