Google has released its “first Pixel Drop of the year,” bringing a slew of new features and improvements to the company’s line of smartphones.

Google’s Pixel line of phones have been growing in popularity, thanks to the company’s clean Android implementation, long-term support, and reasonable prices. Being Google’s own line of devices, Pixels also benefit first from the company’s various advancements, including its new AI features.

Improved Gemini Support

Unsurprisingly, improved Gemini support is one of the headline features of the update.

Gemini Live is getting an upgrade. With the power of 2.0 Flash, we’ve made improvements in understanding and multilingual conversation. Now, you can speak to Gemini Live in any combination of over 45 languages without having to change your language setting. Just start talking and Gemini Live will take it from there.

Also, multimodal capabilities in Gemini Live, which we announced in January and launched for Pixel 9 users, are now rolling out to all Pixel 6 and newer and Pixel Fold devices. You’ll be able to add images, files and YouTube videos to your conversations to provide more context about what exactly you’re looking for or trying to understand.

Pixel Screenshots

The AI-powered Pixel Screenshots feature also received improvements, adding the ability to use with a work profile. This makes Pixel Screenshots a powerful way to keep track of receipts, expenses, and more.

Pixel Studio

Pixel Studio has received a major upgrade, finally giving users the ability to create images depicting people. When Google first incorporated the feature, Pixel Studio could not create images of people, a limitation that has finally been removed.

Create unique images of people to share with your friends and family in Pixel Studio. All you have to do is type a description of a person or scene you’d like to see and watch as Pixel Studio brings your imagination to life.

Improvements for Japan and Germany

Customers in Japan and Germany receive some additional features.

Pixel users in Japan and Germany will get an extra boost of help from Pixel Screenshots, Pixel Studio, Pixel AI weather reports and Pollen tracker in the Weather app. Japanese speakers will also get AI-powered summaries in the Recorder app, great for summarizing class notes or meeting minutes.

Scam Detection and Safety Improvements

Scam Detection for phone calls, powered by Gemini Nano, protects you from fraud with on-device AI while keeping your conversations private to you. This Pixel-exclusive feature detects conversation patterns in calls commonly used by scammers in real time and will notify you if it senses anything suspicious.

And Scam Detection is now available in Google Messages, too. It uses on-device AI to flag conversational text patterns commonly associated with scams, so it can identify messages that seem harmless, but turn dangerous over time. You’ll receive a real-time warning so you can easily block and report the conversation.

Google is also “expanding Satellite SOS to Hawaii, Alaska, Europe and Canada.”

Similarly, Verizon and T-Mobile users receive the ability to text even without cellular or Wi-Fi connection.

If you’re a Verizon user, and you’re somewhere without cellular or Wi-Fi, you can use your Pixel to text message your family and friends, or it can even connect you to emergency services via satellite to get help.

And T-Mobile users are now able to text 911 during an emergency without cellular or Wi-Fi, as well as text message your loved ones over satellite.

Pixel Fold and Streaming Improvements

The update also included some welcome improvements for Pixel Fold users, especially Add Me with Dual Screen Preview.

Great news, Pixel Fold users! Dual Screen Preview now supports video recording, so you can capture the perfect memory. And Pixel 9 Pro Fold users can now use Add Me with Dual Screen Preview so everyone’s included in the moment.

Similarly, the update improves Pixel’s ability to connect to another camera.

We’re making streaming even easier for creators: With Connected Cameras, you can connect your Pixel to another camera — like a GoPro or another Pixel phone — and use the cameras on all these devices to stream to social media platforms from different angles.

Conclusion

The latest update brings welcome improvements, as well as new features for Pixel and Pixel Fold users. Google’s Pixel AI abilities include genuine quality-of-life features that make make everyday tasks easier.