Google I/O 2023 (Google I/O 2023) is over. It was a place where we could gauge what kind of project Google has been working on most recently and which direction it will go in the future.
As expected, there were many AI-centered topics, which are the biggest topic of discussion recently. Google already provides great experiences in various software experiences around the world, and when combined with AI, it takes the experience to the next level.
The waitlist has been eliminated and is open to over 180 countries. It is available in Japanese and Korean, with support for 40 languages coming soon. Interactions have also been structured into more natural interactions. Adobe's Firefly and Bard are integrated, so you can easily create a variety of images. It's a collaboration similar to ChatGPT, but they decided to work with Adobe in the image production area.
It shows searches that go beyond just text being generated. If you write a complex context in a long sentence, various contents such as text, image, and video are compressed and displayed. In addition to webpage and image search, which were originally strong, search for shopping information is also strengthened.
We unveiled the Immersive Route View feature. When looking at the path that takes you to where you want to go, you can now see a close-up of what the real world will look like, not just a metaphor. You can view the route you are traveling in different ways, such as walking, biking, or driving. You can even see the natural environment and traffic as if they were real.
Magic Editor, one of the first AI products, is also improved. Subjects with cropped edges can be moved to the center. Areas that do not exist are automatically drawn by AI. Even a cloudy sky is automatically changed to a clear screen.
Duet AI has been helping in many areas so far. Slides, Docs, and Spreadsheets are improved. Smart Compose powered by AI becomes more powerful. For example, if your flight was canceled and you want a full refund, the prompt can instead write an email requesting a full refund. It provides authoring support for Docs and Gmail, text and image creation for slides and meets, and data analysis and planning capabilities for spreadsheets.
The Pixel 7a, Pixel Fold, and Pixel Tablet were unveiled. The Pixel 7a is the cheaper version of the Pixel 7 and costs $499. You can also get the Pixel Watch if you pre-order the Pixel Fold now. The Pixel Tablet has an 11-inch display and can be used as a smart home device with a charging speaker dock.
The GUI is also much more concise than other services, and I think AI is appropriately used for the experience it provides to users. Google Maps is so immersive that it feels like a metaverse of a new world.
Rather than technical perfection, the key will be who monopolizes the important experience that can be selected by users. Text-based interactions boomed and then calmed down again, but it was a conference where I was more excited to see what moments of a person's day would be changed using AI.
