This week Google blew us away with his Powered by Google event, which introduced us to four Pixel phones, including the Google Pixel 9 Pro Folda new smartwatch, new headphones, and (of course) plenty of Gemini AI updates to check out.
We’ve also been exposed to major VR headset leaks from Meta and Pico, and AppleThe iPhone Air was touted as a slim alternative to its usual smartphones.
To catch up on all of this, scroll down for a roundup of the biggest tech news stories of the week, and we’ll be back next weekend for another quick recap.
7. Created by Google: Gemini AI has been upgraded
This week, Google blew the world away with Gemini Live At its Made for Google event, where it launched gorgeous new Pixel 9 phones. The new AI-powered version of its digital assistant can now converse with you about complex topics, knows what’s on your calendar, and can tell you what Jane asked you in an email a week ago. It also has ten different voices to choose from, allowing you to start having a much more personal relationship with your phone.
Other new AI features include manipulating your photos in Pixel Studio, so you can add things that weren’t originally there, like the sun, a tree, or even a spaceship. As if that wasn’t enough, Gemini can now also do all your research for you, producing a Google Doc with sources, references, and links. Homework will never be the same again!
6. Made by Google: Four new Pixel 9 phones unveiled
Google has made a big design shift with its latest Pixel 9 lineup of phones. The camera arrays are still bold, but instead of stripes, we have islands, and instead of curved backs, we have a see-through look. Pixel 9, Pixel 9 ProAnd Pixel 9 Pro XL which has more in common than ever with the design aesthetic of Apple’s iPhone.
Google has upgraded the power across the entire lineup, moving from the Tensor G3 to the G4 and adding a lot more RAM. They’re all joined by the completely redesigned foldable, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. It’s ultra-thin and has a huge 8-inch flexible display inside.
Of course, the big news about all of these phones may be how they use all of Gemini’s new AI features, like Add Me for photos and Gemini Live. We’ve spent time with all of these phones (and those cool AI features) and come away impressed, but we won’t know for sure whether they’re must-buys or must-upgrades until we’ve reviewed them all.
5. Made by Google: The Pixel Watch 3 killed Fitbit smartwatches
For wearables, the new Pixel Watch 3 unveiled at the Made By Google event is bigger and better than ever. A new 45mm model sits alongside the existing 41mm model, featuring a 40% larger display that can reach up to 2,000 nits of brightness. Both watches feature advanced running metrics, Wear OS 5, all-new watch face complications, and Fitbit Premium’s readiness score, now free from its paywall constraints.
Unfortunately, it’s not all rosy for Fitbit: its smartwatch lines, Versa and Sense, have been discontinued. Fitbits are returning to slim, wristband-sized trackers like the Luxe and Inspire, while Google Pixel Watch will be the only smartwatch series sold by Google in the future. RIP.
4. Made by Google: The Pixel Buds Pro 2 caused a sensation
Alongside the new Pixel phones, including the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Google has also released a new pair of earbuds, and we had the chance to test them out. The new Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 aim to rival other premium earbuds with active noise cancellation, long battery life, and a price tag of $229.99 / £219 / around AU$379.
Perhaps the biggest blessing, though, isn’t the more natural default playback or the ability to use the Gemini in your ears when connected to the right phone. It’s the fact that Google has significantly reduced the size from the first generation for a much more comfortable earbud that sticks out of your ears less and does a much better job of providing a passive seal. Oh, and they come in two really fun shades: Peony or Wintergreen.
We can’t wait to spend more time with them and listen to artists like Bruce Springsteen and Olivia Rodrigo, but for now, head over to their site and read our full first impressions.
This week has been full of VR headset leaks. We got a look at the nearly confirmed “final design” of the Meta Quest 3S – a cheaper alternative to the Quest 3 that’s a sort of Quest 2.5, which Meta itself has teased twice – which looks bulkier than we’d like but could feature an all-new programmable action button or one that can be used to quickly switch between VR and MR. We’ll likely find out more at Meta Connect on September 25-26.
Then there was the Pico 4S, which leaks suggest will be more of a premium model – with the leaker claiming that in some regions it will be called the Pico 4 Ultra. If it’s real, it would be Pico’s answer to the Meta Quest 3, which would be exciting. The Pico 4 was a solid rival to the Meta Quest 2, let down only by software; if the Pico 4S (assuming it’s real) can make up for lost ground in that department, it could be the first real alternative to the Quest 3 (ignoring Meta’s other headsets) – especially since it has more RAM, making it more powerful. We’ll just have to wait and see how the real thing turns out when it’s officially announced.
2. OpenAI Updated GPT 4-o, But Has Concerns About Its AI
This week, OpenAI revealed that he observed users developing feelings for his ChatGPT bot. They use language that you would normally only use with friends or family rather than with a gadget. The company also worries that human-to-human interactions could be affected by users’ ability to interrupt the AI, which is rude in normal conversations.
Additionally, a new update for GPT 4-o has been rolled out. However, since it doesn’t have a new flagship feature to build on, OpenAI doesn’t know how to explain how the upgrade improves ChatGPT, which could also be a problem that other AI makers will face in the future. How can we effectively quantify AI usefulness?
If these issues aren’t addressed soon, they could spell very bad news for AI developers. Skeptics point to these unintended negative side effects and AI’s black-box nature as reasons why it needs to be more regulated. But it remains to be seen whether government agencies take action or whether AI development will remain in the Wild West for a little longer.
1. Rumors about the new iPhone Air have us in a quandary
Many people are planning to upgrade to the iPhone 16 next month. But new rumors this week may have derailed those plans — or at least scuppered them, so to speak.
According to reliable Apple insiders, the company is planning to launch a new iPhone Air model next year, alongside the iPhone 17. This ultra-thin model will apparently sit somewhere between an iPhone 17 and a 17 Pro in terms of price and will act as the MacBook Air of Apple’s phone lineup.
We don’t know about you, but that sounds like a good excuse not to spend more than $799 / £799 / AU$1,499 on a new phone this year…
