Google Rolls Out Latest Pixel Feature Drop With New AI, Safety Features

Google has begun rolling out the latest Pixel Feature Drop update for June 2024, bringing a slew of new capabilities and enhancements to its portfolio of Pixel smartphones, watches, and tablets.

The update includes expanded support for the company's Gemini Nano AI model, which is now available as a developer option on Pixel 8 (Review) and Pixel 8a (Review) devices. The model powers features such as improved speech recognition and the ability to automatically summarise recordings in the Recorder app.

Pixel Watch 2 owners will benefit from a new Car Crash Detection feature. The watch can detect if the user has been in a severe car accident using its accelerometer and barometer. If the user is unresponsive, it can automatically call emergency services and notify emergency contacts.

Home automation fans will appreciate improvements to the Google Home app on Wear OS. Device shortcuts make it quicker than ever to adjust smart lights, switches and more directly from the watch face.

Nest Doorbell owners can expect richer notifications on the Pixel Tablet when docked. The tablet will now display a live snapshot of any visitor and allow two-way chat or quick responses directly from the notification.

The updates also include an automatic photo enhancer, enhanced call screening features, and redesigned Home widgets for faster access to smart devices from mobile screens.

The rollout begins today and will be available to users in phases over the coming weeks, depending on carrier and device model. Users will also have to update individual apps and system services using the Google Play Store to be able to use many of the new features.