I/O is the flagship event of Google, where the company shares the latest announcements and updates about its products and the industry. It just concluded the 2023 edition last Wednesday, May 10th. Many of you may have witnessed the event. But for those who haven’t, here are the biggest highlights during Google I/O 2023.
- Bard is now available for all
You know that artificial intelligence or AI is hot and trending right now. Well, Google’s version of it, Bard, has just been announced it is now available for everybody. This is regardless of whether you were part of the waitlist or not.
Google is also introducing a range of new features to this AI tool, such as supporting Korean and Japanese languages, and a simpler way to export generated text to Gmail and Google Docs.
Plus, there are also a new dark mode feature and visual search features. The company said it is adding more functionalities in the future.
- 3 new products unveiled
During I/O 2023, Google’s Pixel hardware were in the spotlight, as the company unveiled three new products in this catalog, namely the Google Pixel Fold, the Google Pixel Tablet, and the budget-friendly Google Pixel 7A.
- AI-powered capabilities for Android
AI is not just dominating Google Search. During the keynote, the company announced Android will also get AI-powered capabilities. One of these is Magic Compose which will be part of the Messages app, giving users the ability to reply to texts using AI-generated responses.
Moreover, there is also a feature that will allow users to utilize AI to create their own wallpapers. Instead of choosing from a range of premade options, they can describe an image, which their devices will then generate with the use of Google’s text-to-image diffusion model.
- AI-powered snapshots on Google Search
The most talked-about AI nowadays, ChatGPT, is present in Microsoft’s Bing search engine, providing better search results. Will Google let itself remain behind? Of course not.
The company also announced that Google Search will get a significant update with AI snapshots. Once users opt into a new feature called Search Generative Experience (SGE), they can start seeing AI-powered responses at the very top of search results for some queries, providing more context to searches.
- A redesigned Google Home app
The Google Home app has been helping individuals set up and control their Google Nest thermostats, doorbells, cameras, Chromecast, speakers and displays, and many other compatible devices. And during I/O 2023, it was announced it is getting a revamp.
The redesigned app is no longer an invite-only public preview. It was made available to users on Thursday, May 11th. This revamped Google Home app also includes various enhancements, such as an improved camera interface, a new Favorites tab, and more.
- Duet AI for Workspace
During the event, Google also unveiled a new name for the suite of AI tools it is bringing to Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, Google Meet, and Gmail. That is, Duet AI.
Other highlights during Google I/O 2023 are the AI-powered Magic Editor on Google Photos, the new Perspectives feature on Google Search (which lets you get responses from actual human beings), and the new and improved Wear OS 4 launching later this year.
