Google is reportedly developing a new AI assistant that will be exclusive to its Pixel 8 devices. The assistant, codenamed Gia, will be able to perform tasks that are beyond the capabilities of the current Google Assistant, such as summarizing web pages, understanding natural speech, and voice typing in multiple languages.
According to sources familiar with the project, Google is working on a new AI assistant that will be available only on its Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones. The assistant, which is internally referred to as Gia, will leverage the power of the Tensor G3, Google’s custom-made chip that powers the Pixel 8 series.
Gia will be able to do things that the current Google Assistant cannot, such as summarizing web pages for the user, reading them aloud, and translating them into different languages. Gia will also be able to understand natural speech better, picking up on pauses and filler words like “um”, and letting the user speak at their own pace. This feature will be initially restricted to English in the US, but will expand to other languages and regions later.
Another feature that Gia will offer is voice typing in multiple languages, which will allow the user to seamlessly type, edit, and send messages in different languages without switching keyboards or apps. Gia will also be able to detect and filter out more spam calls than before, and engage with callers more naturally with a more realistic-sounding voice.
Pixel 8: A showcase of Google’s AI prowess
The Pixel 8 series, which was launched in October 2023, is Google’s flagship smartphone lineup that showcases its AI prowess. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro feature a revamped camera interface, a new Magic Editor feature in Google Photos that lets the user make drastic changes and edits to their images with the help of AI, and a Video Boost feature that applies the HDR pipeline that the Google Camera uses for photos to videos.
The Pixel 8 series also features a new Audio Magic Eraser feature that lets the user erase distracting sounds from videos, and a Night Sight Video feature that improves the low-light video quality. The Pixel 8 Pro also supports wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, and has a 6.7-inch QHD+ OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
The Pixel 8 series runs on Android 14, which also brings some exclusive features for Pixel devices, such as the new Material You design language, the Live Translate feature that translates speech and text in real time, and the Privacy Dashboard that gives the user more control over their data and permissions.
Gia: A possible name for the new AI assistant
While Google has not officially confirmed the existence or the name of the new AI assistant, some clues suggest that it might be called Gia. According to a report by The Times of India, Google has filed a trademark application for the name Gia in India, which is described as “software for natural language processing; software for speech recognition; software for voice recognition; software for voice command and voice control; software for voice-activated personal assistants; software for voice-enabled artificial intelligence”.
The name Gia could also be a reference to the movie Gia, which starred Angelina Jolie as the model Gia Carangi, who was known for her beauty and charisma. Google might be trying to create an AI assistant that is not only smart and fast, but also attractive and charming.
However, it is also possible that Gia is just a codename or a placeholder, and that Google might choose a different name for the final product. Google has not announced when the new AI assistant will be available for the Pixel 8 users, but it is expected to be released in the coming months as part of the Pixel Feature Drops, which are quarterly updates that bring new tools and features for Pixel devices.
