Digital assistants have made life more convenient, from setting reminders to controlling smart homes. With the rise of generative AI, complex tasks now takes even lesser effort to complete, and Google’s own AI assistant, Gemini, looks to build on this convenience.
Enter Gemini Live, a mobile conversational experience that allows for free-flowing conversations with 10 new voices. Designed to help users with planning, research, summarising content, parsing multiple large documents, and more, it serves to enhance day-to-day communication and organisation. Those looking for extra oomph can look to Gemini Advanced, which proves more capable at handling demanding tasks like coding, logical reasoning, following nuanced instructions, and creative collaboration.
But improved performance comes at a price. The service is part of the Google One AI Premium paid plan that includes Gemini in Gmail, Docs, and other apps, 2TB of cloud storage, and more benefits for S$28.99 per month once its free one-month trial expires.
Owners of the newly announced Google Pixel 9 Pro, Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold are an exception to the rule, though. Each purchase of either device will grant free access to Gemini Advanced for one whole year, easily saving them a few hundred dollars.
This sweet bundle unfortunately doesn’t extend to the base Pixel 9 model, but there’s still plenty to check out here. For starters, the upgraded Tensor G4 chip promises enhanced and more new AI-powered features, with the Pixel 9 Pro and Pro XL packing the best cameras in the lineup to date.
Both the Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL are now available for pre-order, starting at S$1,199 and S$1,739 respectively. The two devices are expected to hit shelves on 22 August, while the Pixel 9 Pro, priced from S$1,459, will be released sometime this September.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
