Made by Google 2024 liveblog: Live updates on Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Watch 3 and more

OK, one last, truly final note:

Contributing reporters Lawrence Bonk, Kris Holt and Will Shanklin have worked up a number of comparison posts comparing Google's latest devices to their Android rivals. You can find those here:

• Google Pixel 9 vs. Samsung Galaxy S24

• Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

• Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

One final note, the official release dates for everything Google announced today are below:

• Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL: August 22

• Pixel 9 Pro Fold: September 4

• Pixel Watch 3: September 10

• Pixel Buds Pro 2: September 26

Catch up on everything announced at the Made by Google event

Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget

All the hardware announced during Google's annual Pixel hardware event is arranged on a white table and look quite shiny and new in black and pastel hues.

August used to be a relatively sleepy month for tech news — no longer! Now that Google scooted up its annual October Pixel event by two months, the tech world is abubble, going over everything execs announced from Mountain View, California at the Made By Google keynote on Tuesday.

The Pixel 9 launch event came with enthusiastic introductions for all the hardware we expected, including the new Pixel 9 and its sizable camera bump. The Pixel 9 Pro and the larger Pixel 9 Pro XL made their official debut, too, and the new foldable, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, does indeed measure just 0.4 inches thick. The new Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Buds Pro 2 have now been revealed, as were plenty of software features, mostly in the form of Gemini integrations with the latest Android 15.0 operating system.

If you're late to today's liveblog, you can catch up with the link below:

• The Google Pixel 9, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and everything announced at the Made by Google event

Thanks so much for joining us today! That was a surprisingly short hour and a half. We'll be livestreaming on the Engadget YouTube channel at 6pm ET or 3pm PT to break down all this news, so join us there! And make sure to check out our Instagram and YouTube profiles for more videos that cover everything announced today.

Thanks so much for tuning in, and once again, for more in-depth info, check out all of our stories on Engadget.com

Well that's it folks!

I don't think I realized how many retail stores Google is opening. There are new locations in Boston and California. Long-term, this might be the biggest way to battle Apple, who has a massive retail footprint.

That's it, the event has wrapped and most of our coverage is already live on Engadget.com! I'll be going to interview some Google executives here in Mountain View. I will say that based on the two people chatting behind me, people seem to already be impressed by Gemini Live and say it was done better than Microsoft's Copilot. What do you all think?

This feature will launch to all Gemini Advanced users "in the coming months," Osteloh said. For now, Osterloh is recapping what we've seen today and says we can test out the features here in Mountain View and at Google Stores around the world. Oh, and there's a party with Keke Palmer after this and Osterloh will be... dancing on fire? On Hot Ones.

I wish I had something like this in college to automate writing bibliographies.

To Sam's point: This is all useless if AI hallucinates even once.

You can ask Gemini to help research graduate schools or tell it to research what to do if you're looking to open a sidewalk cafe. Gemini will start by creating a multi-step research plan and uses multimodal reasoning, dropdown menus and more to come up with a proposal. It'll then bring together all that data into a Google Doc as a report.

Well this could be a pretty powerful "one more thing." The ability to be an AI researcher could be huge, but once again, the AI needs to be accurate.

Other apps can also be brought into Gemini Live, like Google Calendar. Gemini AI is also being evolved to use reasoning, planning and memory to "think multiple steps ahead." Osterloh describes how Gemini will "soon" be able to "assist you as a researcher."

Everything announced at the Made By Google event.

"One of the first places you'll see Project Astra come to life will be right in Gemini Live," Osterloh said. You can share your camera feed with Gemini Live to ask for help with homework, furniture assembly and brainstorming.

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 price starts at $229.

Osterloh is giving us "a quick look" at where Google's research in AI is leading. He reminds us of Project Astra, which was demoed earlier this year at I/O.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 features.

Rick Osterloh is back to close out the show. And no. I don't know who Mark Rober is. Sad.

My colleague Pranav Dixit pointed out in our team slack that the breathing exercise suggestion is similar to a demo that OpenAI gave during its advanced voice modes presentation.

Wait Cherlynn, do you not know who this is?

Man, we're getting tons of cameos today. This time it's everyone's favorite YouTube engineer, Mark Rober.

Waraich told Gemini Live through the Pixel Buds Pro 2 that he's speaking at an important even with a large crowd and Gemini Live coached him through some breathing techniques. Waraich said there's someone in the audience he admires a lot and turns out Mark, someone who makes zipline videos? Is here. He goes up and introduces himself to Mark.

Pixel Buds Pro 2 has a twist to lock in feature for when you're exercising.

What's more interesting is... We're getting another live demo. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 will enable an "eyes-free" and "hands-free" way to interact with Gemini Live, basically. We'll see what Waraich and Gemini Live tell each other in this demo, though normally it'll be private.

If you look closely at the picture, Google added a small stabilizer to the buds, so that they'll fit securely but without becoming extra bulky.

Google's Pixel Buds Pro 2 are its first earbuds with a Tensor chip inside

Google

Google's Pixel Buds Pro 2 in the

Google's Pixel Buds Pro immediately became the company's best earbuds to date when they arrived in 2022. However, they were also the most expensive thus far and key features like spatial audio weren't available at launch. Just over two years later, Google is back with a second-generation version of its noise-canceling Pro model that was rebuilt from the inside out. Plus, the Pixel Buds 2 Pro are the first Google earbuds to feature a Tensor chip inside.

Read the full story: Google's Pixel Buds Pro 2 are its first earbuds with a Tensor chip inside

The Pixel Buds are also the first earbuds with Gemini, which is a weird claim to fame. Gemini is a Google product, as is Pixel Buds, so... Duh?

Ew Sam, who sleeps with earbuds in? But yea sounds like this focus on comfort is good for situations like yours.

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 delivers up to 30 hours with active noise cancellation, and to Sam's point, they're super light. Google says they fit securely, too.

I will admit, I'm a weirdo who sleeps with earbuds in, so the smaller you make them, the more comfortable they are.

The new Pixel Buds Pro 2.

One of the things I appreciate about these is that Google is making them even smaller and lighter before, which is basically the opposite of what Samsung did with the recent Galaxy Buds 3.

Pixel Watch 3 hands-on: A bigger size, bigger screen and bigger battery promises

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

A hazel Pixel Watch 3 and a pink Pixel Watch 3 on a wrist held up in front of some flower. The hazel watch, on the left, is slightly than the pink one on the right.

Stop me if you've heard this one before, but Cherlynn had the chance to check out Google's new Pixel Watch before today's show:

One size never did fit all, especially not for a device as personal as a wearable. The fact that the first two generations of the Pixel Watch were only available in one size was one of my biggest complaints about it. The good news is, that changes with the company's latest smartwatch launched at this year's Made By Google event: The Pixel Watch 3 is finally available in more than one size.

She's got an extensive preview of the new models, covering loss-of-pulse detection, battery life, workout features, Fitbit Premium and much more. It's... over 2,000 words long, so maybe one to save until after the show.

Read the full story: Pixel Watch 3 hands-on: A bigger size, bigger screen and bigger battery promises

Sam do you like Pixel Buds?

Pixel Watch 3 starts at $349.

Now, on to Pixel Buds. Specifically, the Pixel Buds Pro 2. Waraich says they're the first premium earbuds "designed specifically for the Gemini era." It uses Google's own processor called the Tensor A1. It brings "ultra low latency" audio processing, with ANC that's twice as strong as the last-gen earbuds.

Next up, Pixel Buds Pro 2!

Pixel Watch 3 will have the new Loss of Pulse Detection feature.

Back to loss of pulse detection, which Waraich called a "breakthrough new safety feature." It's coming to countries in Europe including the UK, on the Pixel Watch 3 in September. The 41mm watch is available for pre-order starting at $349, while the 45mm model starts at $399.

Lol Cherlynn, I suck at running, so I have to ask for something more relevant to me.

I agree Cherlynn, but it's probably good to go over it again because it's still a relatively novel feature, especially for people not familiar with smart watches.

Sam, I can't believe you're asking for support for weight training. I've been dropping blatant hints to Apple, Google and Samsung for years asking for that and any semblance of accurate rep-tracking, by the way.

Sandeep Waraich, Senior Director of Product Management at Google, discusses Pixel Watch 3 features.

Basically, the loss of pulse detection feature on Pixel Watch 3 will catch if someone has lost their pulse (their heart might have stopped) and see if they're moving, before prompting to reach emergency services.

Waraich just said he's "excited to share" today a new "pioneering" feature called loss of pulse detection. A video is playing, saying the phrase 'loss of pulse' is not something everyone has heard of. Someone is explaining what it means in a medical context. I feel like the name is pretty straightforward, but maybe that's just me.

Waraich explains Fitbit's Readiness Score and its new Cardio Load feature that help understand how hard you've physically exerted yourself the day before and how well you slept to see if you should be pushing yourself. There is a new Morning Brief feature to surface all this information every day

Pixel Watch 3 comes in two sizes.

True Cherlynn, but I still want to see companies like Google and Apple add better support for weight training.

I mean, running is a good place to start. It's one of the most easily accessible sports in terms of cost and availability.

The Pixel Watch 3 comes in a bigger size and tells you when you should rest

Google

The new Google Pixel Watch 3 on a wrist.

It's time for even more new Google Pixel products. This third-generation smartwatch is all about performance and adds a range of new capabilities to help you track your progress, plan and take care of yourself. But the biggest change Google has introduced is adding a 45mm model.

Read the full story: The Pixel Watch 3 comes in a bigger size and tells you when you should rest

Pixel Watch 3 has a bigger display and battery.

Waraich explains how Fitbit studied his runs and explained how his form needed work.

Yep, runners look like they're going to be really happy with the Pixel Watch, because Google is leaning hard to all sorts of fitness monitoring and AI-powered training tools.

During your run, you can get real-time guidance too. Waraich also showed a picture of himself running. This proves nothing, Google. It could have been AI! (I kid, I'll believe Waraich runs at least occasionally. I believe it.)

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold features.

I have to say, Waraich is going at breakneck pace covering the basics of the Pixel Watch 3. He's going into how the Pixel Watch 3 can help "supercharge your runs" now, with a new workout builder that lets you customize them with intervals or set tempo runs.

Finally! I've personally been waiting so long for a bigger Pixel Watch.

"Pixel Watch 3 is also our deepest integration with Google and Pixel yet." Yep don't forget this is a Google product with Fitbit DNA. You'll be able to see your Nest camera feeds on the watch, and looks like it'll be getting Pixel's Call Assist features too.

Google Pixel 9 Pro features.

With Pixel Watch 3, "we're bringing our best lineup yet," Waraich said. For the first time ever, the Pixel Watch will be available in more than one size. Two. Two sizes. 41mm and 45mm. It comes with a new Actua display that's power-efficient and twice as bright as before, going up to 2,000 nits of brightness (and down to 1 nit)

Google Pixel 9 features.

Sandeep Waraich is onstage now to talk about the Pixel Watch.

Okay but the Mahjong bit of this video was pretty great. Girlfriend won with a great hand, after asking Gemini to teach them how to play.

Google Pixel camera features.

I am here for the wearables yall. But first, another sizzle video for the Pixel 9 family.

Brian Rakowski is back onstage and running us through the family of Pixel 9 devices like the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The Pixel 9 starts at $799, the Pro at $999 and the Pro Fold at $1,799. The entire family is available for pre-order today in the US, Japan and Europe. The Pixel 9 and Pro XL starts shipping Aug 22 while the rest come out in September. All three Pro phones come with a year of Gemini Advanced and 2TB of cloud storage.

It looks like we're wrapping up the Pixel phone section, but there are still more devices to come.

Video Boost in particular is getting better support for low-light processing. You can also zoom in up to 20x. And rendering is twice as fast, which is important because Video Boost processing happens in the cloud and not on di

Now Google is talking about bringing dual exposure support to videos.

Google

In this case, the wildflowers — not in the original shot — were added by Magic Editor based on the user's prompt.

Kenny and Shenaz just added some hot air balloons to the image, but hilariously, an incredibly wonky one appeared in one of the versions and Kenny quickly sidestepped it while going "oooh." I guffawed. Live.

Autoframe is another AI camera feature that tries to recompose your shots to make them look better. It will even fill in the missing sections of a shot automatically, kind of like the content aware fill tool in Photoshop.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold hands-on: A clever new shape and even bigger displays

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Google's Made You Look feature is exclusive to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and uses the outside screen to show an animation and make people smile when shooting photos.

Sam had the opportunity to check out the Pixel 9 Pro Fold (including the "Made You Look" feature pictured above) in the lead-up to today's event, and came away pretty impressed:

"I really like what Google is doing with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold — you know, aside from its clunky new name. In a lot of ways, Google is delivering what I wanted Samsung to do for the Z line. The Pro Fold is thinner than Z Fold 6 while also having a bigger main screen. And its cameras should be better too. Plus, thanks to Google's lead in AI, we're getting even more fun and useful tools for tweaking photos or remembering that cool pair of shoes you screenshotted weeks ago. Sure, Google still doesn't have a real alternative to Dex mode or built-in stylus support. But for people who want a convertible phone with great screens, excellent cameras and powerful software, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is looking like a great follow-up to the original. Oh, and priced at $1,800, it costs $100 less than the Z Fold 6 too."

Read the full story: Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold hands-on: A clever new shape and even bigger displays

We're talking about Magic Editor now with a (highly rehearsed) live demo. I'm sure Shenaz didn't just decide she wanted to change the background of a picture to "wildflowers" on the spot. After a pause, the Magic Editor replaced some bland background space with colorful flowers in grass.

Google

The new Magic Editor feature uses generative AI to reframe photos.

LOOK AT THAT BABY! In that picture that w just posted below!!!

One note, Made You Look is a feature exclusive to the Pro Fold. It uses the outside screen to show an animation to make people (kids) smile and pay attention when you're trying to snap a pic.

Google

This new feature helps get toddlers to smile by projecting images on the Pro Fold's front screen.

Guided Frame, an accessibility feature that helps people who are blind of visually impaired, is going to be easier to enable and offer better guidance on angles and framing.

Google has a cute baby smiling at a camera as part of another feature called "Made You Look" that's coming to Pixel Folds, using the external display to get grumpy subjects to smile. Shenaz shows a childhood picture of herself saying she wishes the feature existed back in her day. Again, adorable.

Lol yes, Cherlynn, Jimmy Butler plays for the Miami Heat.

For the record, Jimmy Butler is listed at 6'7”.

Google

NBA star Jimmy Butler (center) helps demo the Pixel's new camera features.

So we're being treated to another live demo, and it's wrapping with Kenny implying "we'd love to see you more in the Golden state" to Butler.. Is this some kind of basketball thing, Sam?

I'm really glad Google is doing a live demo of Add Me, because it's one of those things that's easier to understand in action versus someone writing about it.

Six time NBA All Star Jimmy Butler is joining Shenaz and Kenny onstage to help show off an upcoming feature called Add Me. Shenaz asks if she can take a picture with Butler and implores him to not "box me out." It's cute so far. Butler, by the way, is... to put it mildly, very tall. Shenaz is not.

WHAT IS JIMMY BUCKETS DOING HERE?!

During our hands-on session, we got to see some early samples of low-light photos taken with the revamped Panorama mode, and I got to say they look incredible.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Another new feature on the Pixel 9 is the ability to take low-light panoramas.

The new Pixel software features announced at the Google event.

THE SHADE Google just threw at Apple, showing side by side low light photo samples from the Pixel 9 Pro XL and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Obviously Apple's picture didn't look as great, it is a Google event after all.

Google says that for this generation, it rebuilt its image pipeline from the ground up. But I'm curious to see how much that impacts overall image quality.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a bigger, brighter inner display and the same $1,799 price

Google

Product lifestyle image of the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold. A person holds the (unfolded) foldable phone in their right hand while sitting poolside on a sunny day.

Google's second foldable phone, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, has arrived. The good news is its eight-inch inner display is the largest on a folding phone, edging out the OnePlus Open's 7.8 inches. Of course, it also gets the latest Tensor chip (and more memory).

Read the full story: The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a bigger, brighter inner display and the same $1,799 price

"Shenaz and Kenny" are now onstage to talk about the Pixel Camera experience and updates. The names are flashing by too quickly for me to keep up with last names!

Now Google is transitioning to talk about Pixel 9 camera features.

Live demo of Pixel Studio, a new image generation app.

Lol, Google just took a little jab at Apple for finally agreeing to support RCS on iPhones.

Schiffhauer used Pixel Studio to create an invitation graphic to an Ocean Beach party, using a beach with a campfire and the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. He sent it to his group of friends and shouted out that thanks to RCS support, everyone would receive it in high quality. Yay for RCS!

Using AI to make custom stickers of your friends seems really fun. Unfortunately, you can't use those stickers in other apps yet. But I won't be surprised to see Google expand that functionality down the line.

Schiffhauer is now showing how the new Pixel Studio app works. It's an image generator using Imagen 3 and you can feed it prompts to create pictures and change to different styles and more. You can also create stickers based on photos of your friends. I did make one on a demo Pixel 9 last week. Loved it.

The Pixel Screenshots app uses AI to scour the screengrabs I can't remember why I saved

Google

Three phones laid out side-by-side, each showing a different page of the Screenshots app on its screen. The leftmost one shows the Pixel Screenshots app home page in dark mode, the middle shows a screenshot of a website after it's captured and the right shows some screenshots in the new app and the words

As Cherlynn mentioned, we've got a full write-up of the Pixel Screenshots app for your consideration. Here's (part of) her take:

"It's kind of a coincidence that Google is launching this app today, considering Apple's redesign of its Photos app also pays extra attention to organizing and filtering out screenshots. My experience of both approaches is extremely limited at the moment, but currently I slightly prefer Google's Screenshots app. It feels like a more focused and deliberate way to look for information and get help from AI, rather than possibly getting distracted by my million selfies in the Photos app on my iPhone when I'm trying to look for a bank statement, perhaps."

Read the full story: The Pixel Screenshots app uses AI to scour the screengrabs I can't remember why I saved

This just reminded me of how Samsung invited Mr Beast to do some kind of video around a Galaxy device... Funny how that went...

Keke Palmer makes an appearance at the Made By Google event.

Well that was unexpected, but I guess Google is trying to do some cross-promotion between YouTube and its devices.

Schiffhauer shouts out their spouse onstage, saying they just got their first wedding gift (Keke Palmer's latest album, hand-delivered).

Also, surprise! Keke Palmer is here! Onstage! Interrupting Schiffhauer! Talking about an afterparty on YouTube right after this event wraps!

Pixel Screenshots will use AI to dig into the contents of your images to find things like Wi-Fi passwords or addresses. The app will also remember URLs of pages you screenshotted (is that a word?) That way you can just click through to the link you were shopping, even if it was months later.

I think the Screenshots app is really smart, because it's basically improving what we do when we're saving screencaps anyway. And because it all happens on device and only for the stuff you save manually, it feels like invasive compared to something like Microsoft's Recall feature in Windows 11.

Yes Sam. I LOVE SCREENSHOTS. Do you use screenshots? Schiffhauer is explaining how they use screenshots to search or shop for bikes.

Pixel Screenshots lets you save, organize and recall anything you need.

Speaking of receipts, the new Pixel Screenshots app has got me really excited. I take so many screenshots every day. Spoiler alert, I already saw most of this new stuff, and can say the Screenshots app is very intriguing. Like Sam said, you can go to Engadget.com to see all our detailed impressions already.

Pixel Call Notes lets you create transcripts and summaries while you're having a call.

Next up is the new Pixel Screenshots app, which I know Cherlynn is really excited about.

I'm intrigued by the new Call Assist features. Google is expanding the existing set of Pixel's AI tools for calls by adding "Call Notes." It'll basically transcribe all your calls and deliver summaries after. As someone who's always collecting receipts and interview records, I love this.

Call Notes is another new AI-powered feature that can create transcripts of calls, so you don't always need to have a pen and paper handy to write down numbers or quotes.

Google's Pixel 9 is a sleeker and more powerful flagship built for Gemini AI

Photo by Google

Pixel 9

Practical. Functional. Different. Those are the ways we've typically described Google's Pixel smartphones since they debuted in 2016. Google was always less concerned about making its phones look as cool as competitors — instead, its focus has been on unique camera tech and early AI capabilities. Since 2021's Pixel 6, their cases have also been dominated by a massive rear camera bar, something that allows for large sensors but is undoubtedly polarizing. You either love it as an example of Google going against the grain, or you hate it.

Read the full story: Google's Pixel 9 is a sleeker and more powerful flagship built for Gemini AI

There was just a huge noise that sounded like a bunch of furniture fell over backstage and those of us in the audience were mildly concerned. Dan Howley from Yahoo Tech, who's sat in front of me, turned around to confirm we all noticed it.

It's got a pretty slick UI, but the neat part is using AI to summarize what kind of weather you will run into throughout the day.

Have you ever wanted an AI weather app? Well now you have one thanks to Pixel Weather.

Pixel 9 lineup features, including its thinnest foldable phone and Satellite SOS.

So we talked before about how Google switched up its design. But the really clever adjustment is using a 6.3-inch exterior display for the Pro Fold that's the same size as what you get on the standard Pixel 9. So it still delivers a very usable outside screen.

More live demos now! Alex Schiffhauer takes the stage to show off some Pixel 9 features.

Google just announced the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL

Google

Happy people using a phone.

Google just officially revealed the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL smartphones at its latest Made by Google event. These offer some major improvements when compared to the standard Pixel 9, which was also announced today.

Read the full story: Google just announced the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL

I just want to say someone sneezed behind me and I flinched. Can the new Pixel phones double as a mask?

Sam, say no more. I need no excuse to go on a hike for work.

Pixel 9 Pro Fold phone.

Now it's time to talk Pixel 9 Pro Fold!

Cherlynn, now you're going to have to go get lost on a hike to test out the Satellite SOS.

Satellite SOS coming to Pixel devices and these are the first Android devices to get them! I'm personally stoked. I don't know why I like satellite messaging so much?

The Pixel 9 is also getting an upgrade in RAM. 12GB for the standard Pixel 9 and 16GB for both Pixel 9 Pros.

There's also a new vapor chamber to help deliver better-sustained performance, which is kind of a big deal because a lot of past Pixel phones have struggled with heat dissipation.

New Pixel 9 phones announced at the Google event.

And of course, there's a new chip, the Tensor G4.

The big goal was to give people who like smaller devices a Pro phone, but with all the same features including a telephoto camera.

Brian Rakowksi, VP Product Management of Pixel, showcasing the new Pixel 9 lineup.

So perhaps the biggest change is the addition of a second Pro Pixel. This time there's a Pixel 9 Pro, which is the same size as the regular Pixel 9. And there's also the Pixel 9 Pro XL, which has a larger 6.8-inch screen.

Time for what we're all here for, right? Sam, you're hype about this?

Rakowski is talking about a "full stack" of AI applications that "come to life" on Pixel. He reminds us of Tensor and models that are on Pixel devices. "Today, we're going to show you new ways that on-device AI is going to improve phone calls," "new Pixel camera features" and more. But first, the new look.

It's time for the Pixel 9!

(I'm not. I don't have a water bottle with me.) Brian Rakowski takes the stage and he's going to talk about some "fantastic new devices" calling it the "biggest update we've ever made to our Pixel family."

That said, I have to admit that it can be confusing trying to keep track of all the different levels of Gemini and how much they cost.

"This is only the beginning," Blackburn said after summarizing some of the features Google had just shown. The company is going to continue expanding what the AI can do. Now, another video/sizzle reel featuring Gemini AI. Are we drinking?

Even with that initial fumble, I think trying to do a live demos may be working out for Google, as you really get a sense of the speed and conversationality of Gemini Live.

That demo went pretty well, and Blackburn is done. Blackburn says she loves talking to Gemini, and that it's available first in English to Gemini Advanced subscribers. Everything shown so far is available today on Pixel, Samsung and Android phones.

Gemini Live suggests volcano building, lava lamp and invisible ink activities. It's also saying things like "imagine the ink changing color... that'd be pretty cool, right?" This sort of question-and-answer adds to the sense of natural interaction that AI has generally lacked in conversations.

Jenny Blackburn demoing Gemini Live, which lets you choose a voice before you get started.

Blackburn asks the Ursa-voiced Gemini Live for ideas for fun and educational activities for her niece and nephew who are visiting soon. She mentions something to do with chemistry and that is magical. Ursa waits patiently for her to finish her rambling description and responds in a natural-sounding manner.

The basic idea is that instead of having to say "Hey, Google" every time you want to ask a question, you can have a more natural conversation, as if you were talking to a friend. And I think a little personalization for voices in this case may go a long way.

Blackburn is going through some AI voices for Gemini Live, having shown us one called Vega and another called Dipper. Then one called Ursa which the screen describes as "engaged" and "mid-range." They all say something vaguely sassy.

Blackburn is back and talking about Gemini Live now, which I feel like we've heard about before at I/O? She's about to do a live demo too. Prayers up, people.

Gemini, Google's AI-powered chatbot, is the default assistant on Pixel 9 phones

Google

Google Gemini

Google's new Pixel 9 lineup of phones will be different from all other Android phones in one big way: The default assistant on these devices will be Gemini, Google's AI-powered chatbot, not Google Assistant. "On mobile, Gemini is an evolution of the Assistant," Sissie Hsiao, Google's vice president and general manager of Gemini Experiences, told Engadget in an interview. "Users can go back to the classic Google Assistant, but this is the new Assistant now."

Read the full story here.

SAM?!?! KPOP!?!?!? FIFTY FIFTY?? I'm shook.

Citron is asking Gemini to draft notes in specific tones now, and the system responds with options in a few seconds. What would otherwise have taken Citron minutes can now be done in seconds, they said. To me, the pause was a bit pronounced and too long, but I guess it's better than writing something yourself.

Fifty Fifty or bust, Cherlynn.

I think the ability to have Gemini gather info from YouTube captions is really neat, because it saves you a ton of time by not having to watch the entire video.

IU, 2NE1 and NewJeans or gtfo.

Carpenter asked Gemini to create a list of K-Pop music for walking around Seoul. It returned something called "Seoul Soundscapes" on YouTube Music. Though, without seeing what artists are actually included, I have to reserve judgement.

Jess Carpenter (not to be confused with Sabrina) is having a smoother time with their demo, talking about "Korean sweet potatoes with strawberry milk, if you know, you know." I'm hungry now.

Dave Citron, Senior Director of Product, Gemini, demoing Gemini.

Oh no, the curse of live demos has struck again. Google is trying to use Gemini to analyze the content of a photo and it struggled the first time. But thankfully it worked on the second attempt.

Citron tries again, asking Gemini to check his calendar to see when Sabrina Carpenter is coming to San Francisco. After a tense pause, Gemini responds with the right answer! Cheers all around, mostly because people were relieved, probably. He then asked Gemini to add "Espresso" to his shopping list and after a bit of a lag, the system added it to Keep.

Google is talking about Gemini's multi-modality, which in short is the ability to accept a range of input types such as text, photo/video, audio and more.

"See if the demo spirits are with us today," Citron said as he waits for Gemini to reply. The phone stalls and "oops it looks like they're not with us today." I love when a live demo fails because it feels more real?

Jenny Blackburn, Vice President of UX, Gemini experiences and Google Assistant, discussing Gemini.

Blackburn talks about the usefulness of Gemini and AI in classrooms and education, saying students can ask the AI to critique their essays. I remain convinced AI cannot and should not replace or even assist educators. Blackburn walks off and Dave Citron and Jess Carpenter from Google come on to do a live demo of some Gemini features.

Now before we get in too deep, if you're looking for more in-depth information, please check out Engadget.com.

Jenny Blackburn just took the stage from Samat and is here to talk about Gemini experiences.

Sameer Samat, VP of Product Management at Android, on stage at the Made By Google event.

Sam didn't you just see some new Google devices that won't get Gemini for a bit and will have to rely on Google Assistant?

Samat is going over some examples of Gemini AI applications like building custom workout routines or creating a resume based on files in a Google Drive folder. Not much we haven't seen in the last few years, beyond integrations with Google's software.

Samat claims that Gemini is the most widely available AI assistant. That said, I think if we're really splitting hairs, I think that title should go to the Google Assistant because it's available on a wider range of devices (stuff like tablets and smart displays)

Gemini is being built for "Android scale," Samat said. It's not just being built for flagship devices but also existing ones. "Which means your Android phone keeps getting better over time" and that it's "by far the most widely available AI Assistant," Samat added. He's talking about Gemini on foldables like on the external display of the Razr+ and on the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Now we're transitioning to Sameer Samat, who is talking about the advantages of an AI-powered OS.

Rick continues to explain how Google is trying to make AI and its models accessible to every part of its ecosystem, including in Android and on Pixel phones.

Google has revamped its Assistant around Gemini, Osterloh said. "It's the biggest leap forward since we launched Google Assistant." The company wants to make Gemini available to everyone on every phone, and he introduces Sameer Samat, head of Android, who's here to tell us more.

I will admit, when it comes to AI, I think Google gets a little more leeway just because of how long it's been working on features like the Google Assistant.

Another big part is Google's AI models, most notably all the different versions of Gemini.

For those who are wondering back home, Rick Osterloh is actually here onstage (in soft, flattering stage lights). This isn't a pre-taped video that we all flew out to watch (ahem, Apple).

Osterloh says that one of the core components that power so many of Google's devices are chips like the Tensor G3.

Rick Osterloh, Senior Vice President of Google Devices and Services, discussing Gemini.

Just FYI the Wi-Fi here at the event completely dropped out and I had to switch from "Alphabet Guest" to "GoogleGuest." Really great. Anyway, not sure if you all saw on the livestream but here at the event we saw a quick memoriam note to former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki before things kicked off.

Osterloh is talking a big game, especially when it comes to trying to make people care about AI.

First up is Google hardware Chief Rick Osterloh

Well, we're starting off with a bang and some Jay-Z.

Aaaaand here's your five-minute warning.

We're just 5 minutes away from Google's event starting, so I'm sure this scintillating bathroom review chatter is reminding you to go take a toilet break.

Apple's restrooms feel a bit more posh and sleek, with a more neutral, woody color scheme, while Google's today had a monochromatic, modern vibe. Both had helpful amenities handy, though Google offered just a few more like a lint roller and safety pins. Apple does win in terms of individual stall privacy though, since they're more enclosed and don't have much of a gap. This has been Cherlynn Low, intrepid Big Tech Bathroom reporter.

LOL, how you gonna come in here and talk about bathroom comparisons and not be more specific? What is your criteria!

This is my first time at Google's Bay View space, since prior events were either held in New York City or at the Shoreline Amphitheater, which sees a lot more foot traffic. And I have to say, Google's bathrooms are seemingly on par with Apple's here. I know, you all come here for our unique tech company bathroom reporting.

I'm curious to see if Google can break through the AI fatigue that has set in this year, especially after Samsung and Apple decided to go and make their own suite of AI-powered apps and features.

I'm back from my bathroom and water break and, at the risk of sounding weird, I had a thought. When I attend events held by the two companies whose campuses I've visited multiple times, I judge them on a few areas (aside from the actual news announcements). There are obvious things like transport logistics, accessibility of the space, whether their seats are laptop-friendly and, of course, food.

Oh hi Cherlynn! Glad you finally made it.

By the way, I can confirm there is indeed music playing here at the event space even if the livestream may be muted. I'm about to go hunt down some water and a bathroom. I'm not sure how long this thing will run but I don't want to rupture a bladder!

Ok, back to the event itself. Aside from the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, we're also expecting to see a handful of phones, some new Pixel Buds and the Pixel Watch 3.

Similar to the teaser for the Pro Fold, Google gave us a sneak peek of the Pixel 9 Pro and of course the company is already hinting at a bunch of new AI features.

Also hi everyone! We were finally let in and I'm getting set up. I'm sat next to Julian Chokkattu from Wired, we're both in ergonomic distress from the laptop-on-lap setup right now. I'd guess there's room for about 500 to 800 people in here

Yes it's cozy indeed! I hope you shared my pictures of the breakfast bento box Sam. The box that I grabbed has turned out really handy.... As a lapdesk for my laptop! There are no desks or stable surfaces in this auditorium

Still no music or anything from the live stream, I'm always curious to hear what kind of playlists big tech companies like making.

Ok, T-minus 30 minutes. Now's a great time to grab a snack or drink before things get started for real.

It seems Google is getting playful with its signage.

Photo by Cherlynn Low/Engadget

Made by Google August 2024 entrance

Aaaand now she's grabbing a quick breakfast bento box before sitting down. Looks extremely healthy, I could definitely go for a chia pudding right now.

Photo by Cherlynn Low

Bento box at Made By Google

Photo by Cherlynn Low

Made By Google August 2024

Cherlynn is currently going through registration and snapped this pic of someone posing out in front of the big sign.

Alternatively, for those who do want to follow along with the live stream, you can watch it yourself right here.

Now I should mention that for today, Cherlynn is covering the event on-site, while I'm remote because I can't travel right now (personal reasons).

That said, while we have time, I must admit I kind of hate the name. Pixel 9 Pro Fold just feels clunky.

As far as I can tell, the name change is because Google wants people to know that this is part of the larger Pixel 9 family, which makes sense. But I still prefer the simplicity of Pixel Fold, Pixel Fold 2, etc.

Right away, this has some big clues about what's going on with the Pixel Fold's successor including a revamped design.

It looks like Google is doing away with the short and squatty passport shape in favor of something taller. That's a bit of a bummer because I really the like wider front screen on the Pixel Fold because it makes the outside screen more usable than what you get on a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.

But we're going to have to wait and see more to get a better sense of how that might change how you use the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Naturally, this leads into what Google has in store for the livestream later. And just like in years past, Google decided to pre-empt the leaks by teasing the Pixel 9 Pro Fold ahead of the event.

And honestly, it's really encouraging to see how much wear and tear modern foldables can handle, especially after the fiasco that was the original Z Fold.

Thanks Aaron. The durability of foldables is tough to cover, simply because you need to put in a ton of time with a specific device. But as someone who's been using some version of a Z Fold and now the Pixel Fold as my daily driver for the last 4 years, it's nice to follow up with additional info when possible.

One thing we're expecting today is a replacement for the original Pixel Fold. That model was received well, scoring an 85 in our review, but what's it like over a year later? Foldable phones are notoriously more fragile than regular smartphones, and so senior reviews writer Sam Rutherford recently wrote up a one-year durability report. The verdict is that it's much more durable than anticipated, holding up better than Samsung's Z Fold series has in previous "one year on" reports. You can read the full story here.

For what it's worth, I am absolutely loving the beautiful 60-degree (Fahrenheit) weather here in the Bay Area. It's a relief compared to the hot, humid New York summer and Singapore climate I've recently endured.

While you're reading this and patiently waiting the actual news, just so you know, Google's event properly kicks off at 1pm ET or 10am PT. That's in about 1.5 hours. So you have plenty of time to grab snacks and stop by the restroom before that.

Typically, Google hosts its Pixel hardware launch event later in the year — usually in October. It also has held those events in New York City for the last few years. So to have it in August in Mountain View, California, is a pretty significant change. I don't know what to make of it, really, other than maybe Google wanted this month because it's less hectic for all of us and the spaces they wanted were not available? Really speculating here.

Lol Cherlynn, I think people might hurt themselves if they turn this into a drinking game.

Definitely worth getting some kind of game going to see how many times AI is mentioned today, though that might be getting a bit old now.

You can check out our What to expect at Made By Google article for a pretty exhaustive breakdown of what we think the company will unveil today. Looks like we're going to get quite a few devices, and at least some mention of AI!

While I get ready to go sample some breakfast before securing myself a prime seat at Google's campus, what are you all most excited to see get announced today? The leaks and teases have been pretty relentless.

It's obviously all about the quality.

I'll be joined on this liveblog by senior writer Sam Rutherford, who's bringing you the commentary from the east coast! Sam and I traded the "travel to California" gig this time, since he went to Google I/O earlier this year. Not enough snack pictures Sam, that's why you're staying home this time.

(Joking! We don't judge our teammates on quantity of snack pictures!)

Hello everyone and thank you for joining us for our liveblog of the Made By Google event today! I'm getting ready to head to the company's campus here in the Bay Area, and will be bringing you the updates from the scene. And the snack pictures. Definitely pictures of snacks.