Pixel 9 to have 'Google AI' for 'Studio' and Recall-like screenshot analysis

With the Pixel 9 series expected to make heavy use of LLM and Gemini features, new leaks suggest that these features will all be available on the upcoming devices under the new "Google AI" banner.

Back in late 2023, reports surfaced that Google was working on getting Gemini to power an AI assistant called "Pixie" that would be exclusive to Pixel hardware. It would utilize Gmail, Maps, and other “data from Google products” on your phone to create a very “personalized version of the Google Assistant.”

Little was known about how this would manifest, but details unearthed by Android Authority have given a taste of what to expect – including the new name of ” Google AI.” This report also suggests that the Pixel 9 will ship with a feature that is eerily similar to the somewhat controversial Microsoft Recall function.

Another touted feature of Google AI is “Add me.” This camera function is described as being able to “make sure everyone’s including in a group photo” according to screenshots. This can be an additional or extension of the "Best Intake" feature of Pixel 8, which allows you to adjust the theme's face reaction in the group's recording.

"Studio" is another new feature in the Google AI kit. According to the report, it is just the new name for Creative Assitant, which has previously been detailed as an extension of Generative AI tools. Interestingly, the attached screen map indicates that you are "imagining it" and "Pixel creates it".

No other information is divided about how this may be possible, but we could see some of the Imagen 2, VideoFx or VEO and ImageFX used here to activate the studio feature in the Pixel 9 series units. The last new feature described in this leak is called "Pixel Screenshots". It allows you to use artificial intelligence to search for screenshots and use them as an extended library of information and context. You'll be able to "collect new and existing screenshots" to answer "questions about the information they contain."

As mentioned above, this is similar to Microsoft's proposed rollback feature in Windows 11. As with recent changes to Windows features, Google is making this an explicit opt-in AI feature. It can be turned off at any time and only works on the screenshots you take directly. This can make pixel screenshots more secure than actively scanning the entire device image library.

However, it will be able to scrape metadata, web links, app names and dates to get contextual images for each screenshot. Everything will be processed on the device, so nothing is sent from the cloud—another potential privacy benefit.