Google introduces its first AI-driven Android update alongside the release of new Pixel 9 smartphones.

• Google unveiled its latest Android software update and line of smartphones featuring its Gemini AI assistant.
• The company unveiled a new Pixel 9 series with enhanced features in an effort to increase the visibility of its AI products among consumers.
• The company announced on Tuesday that they have completely rebuilt the assistant experience with Gemini.

Google has announced new artificial intelligence features for Android devices, including its Gemini AI assistant, which will be available on supported devices. This move highlights Google's commitment to putting its AI in front of consumers before its competitors, such as Apple, launch their AI on iPhones, Macs, and iPads later this year.

The latest Android features could help drive new revenue for Google through its Gemini AI subscription program, despite the company not making much money from its hardware business.

"Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat announced in a Tuesday blog post that the assistant experience has been completely rebuilt with Gemini, allowing you to communicate with it naturally as if you were speaking to another person. The assistant can comprehend your intentions, follow your line of thought, and complete intricate tasks."

From today onwards, you can use Gemini's overlay on top of your app to get answers about what's on your screen. It will be accessible on hundreds of phone models from various device manufacturers, as per Google.

This year, Google is heavily emphasizing new AI capabilities on Android devices, powered by a large AI language model.

The company demonstrated an example where a user uploaded a photo of a concert list and requested Gemini to verify if their calendar was clear. Subsequently, Gemini examined Google Calendar. If the user had an open slot in their schedule, Gemini proposed to set a reminder to check ticket prices later that evening.

The assistant can also perform tasks using information from Google apps.

The company stated in its blog post that, for instance, Gemini can assist in creating a daily workout routine based on a personal trainer's email or utilize a resume in Google Drive to write a work bio.

The company stated that a user could request Gemini to draft an email and create an image of a cake for someone who loves space, which the assistant could attach to the email. Alternatively, a user could ask Gemini about the content in a YouTube video.

Google is working on adding support for third-party extensions, which may allow developers to add the option to their apps, such as Maps, Flights, and Gmail, to view what's on your phone screen.

The Gemini "Live" feature, announced at the May developer conference, allows users to have a human-like conversation with Gemini's assistant through select devices and subscriptions to the Gemini Advanced program, which costs $19.99 per month.

In June, Apple unveiled its long-awaited AI initiative, Apple Intelligence, which includes features such as recognizing important notifications based on personal context, cross-application tasking, and utilizing Siri to access OpenAI's ChatGPT for tasks like writing tools and image creation.

The bulk of Apple's system will not be launched until next year, while some early features will be introduced alongside the new iPhones this fall.

New Pixel 9 phones and Pixel Watch 3

Google unveiled its latest line of "Pixel" phones, including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, all equipped with Gemini AI features.

The Pixel 9 series boasts an enhanced camera and a 35% brighter screen for improved outdoor viewing. It also comes equipped with Google's latest Tensor G4 processor and 16GB of RAM, which is crucial hardware for AI applications.

The amount of RAM is a significant factor in determining whether a smartphone can run AI, as stated by Google.

In contrast, only the latest iPhones released in 2023 have enough memory to run Apple Intelligence, which AI developers attribute to the lower memory capacity of older iPhones.

The Pixel 9, which costs $799, is $100 more expensive than the Pixel 8. However, smartphone prices have increased across most manufacturers in the past year. The Pixel 9 Pro starts at $999 and includes a free year of "Gemini Advanced" subscription. The Pixel 9 Pro XL starts at $1,099, while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold starts at $1,799.

Google unveiled the Pixel Watch 3, which is available in two sizes, 41 mm and 45 mm, with larger screens than previous models. The new features include the ability to plan running workouts, readiness and cardio load data, and AI-powered workout recommendations. The Pixel Watch 3 is more integrated with Google's ecosystem, allowing users to access Nest camera and doorbell feeds, the Google TV remote, offline Google Maps, and more. The watch offers up to 24 hours of battery life or up to 36 hours with Battery Saver mode.

— CNBC's Kif Leswing contributed to this report.