Google launches $499 Pixel 8a as it brings generative AI to more consumers

Google (GOOG, GOOGL) is bringing its generative artificial intelligence to a wider audience with the debut of its new Pixel 8a smartphone on Tuesday. The phone, which starts at $499, comes with many of the generative AI features found in its more expensive Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 devices, including photo and video editing capabilities.

Google says the 6.1-inch Pixel 8a will have access to the company’s Gemini generative AI chatbot, as well as AI-powered generative features like Best Take and Circle to Search. The company also claims that users will eventually have access to Gemini Nano, a smaller version of the Gemini large language model that runs directly on the Pixel 8a, in a future update.

The standard version of Gemini requires an internet connection to be able to process your requests through Google’s cloud servers. Gemini Nano runs directly on your device, allowing it to perform certain generative AI tasks without accessing the web.

The Pixel 8a comes with Google’s latest Tensor G3 chip, 128GB of storage with the option to upgrade to 256GB, and a new 120hertz display for smoother gaming and scrolling. There’s also a 64-megapixel wide-angle camera with Super Res Zoom that simulates a telephoto lens and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera.

Google previously released several Pixel 8a generative AI features alongside the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro in October. The standout AI offering is Magic Editor, which lets you remove unwanted people and objects from images or move them around the photo by simply circling them. I could, for example, change a photo of myself to look like I was dunking a basketball, something I could never do, or edit a passerby who walked into my photo to make it look like he was never there.

Circle to Search is an equally cool feature that lets you circle an object in an image and instantly search for it online via Google search. The idea is to make it easier to find products you saw in a photo and buy them online. You can also highlight text in an image to quickly search for it on Google.

Then there’s Best Take, which is meant to be used with group photos. When you take a photo, Best Take captures a series of images of everyone’s face. If someone blinked in the photo, you can use Best Take to swap their face with one of the photos where they didn’t blink. Best Take only changes the person’s face, not the body.

There’s also Magic Audio Eraser, which helps eliminate background noise in your videos and better isolate sound from the main subject.

This is all part of Google’s effort to turn its generative AI offerings into compelling consumer features that will drive device sales across its Android smartphone lineup. The company has also teamed up with Samsung to bring some of the same features to the company’s Galaxy S24 line of phones.

The story continues

Generative AI is seen as the next catalyst to boost smartphone sales, but there is still no specific app that is encouraging consumers to go out and buy new AI-powered phones. That said, Google is gearing up to host its annual Google I/O developer conference on May 14, where it could debut truly must-have new generative AI features for its Android devices.

Google rival Apple (AAPL) is also preparing to unveil a series of generative AI capabilities for its various products during its WWDC event in June.

Email Daniel Howley at dhowley@yahoofinance.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley.

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