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Pixel 9 starts at $799, which is $100 more than previous

model

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New AI features include screenshot search, Gemini chatbot

overlay

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Announcement comes two months ahead of Google's typical

schedule

By Kenrick Cai

MOUNTAIN VIEW, California, Aug 13 - Alphabet's

Google on Tuesday unveiled a lineup of new Pixel smartphones

with deeper integrations of its artificial intelligence

technology as it races to incorporate AI into its hardware.

The event at Alphabet's headquarters in Mountain View,

California, bucks a tradition Google has maintained with every

iteration of Pixel - its flagship smartphone launched in October

2016 - to announce the new version in autumn.

The earlier timing is Google's latest bid to keep up with

rivals in injecting AI features into its consumer-facing

products and comes ahead of Apple's ( AAPL ) planned launch of a

new iPhone in September.

In June, Apple ( AAPL ) announced that devices including its latest

version of iPhones would get upgrades that include "Apple

Intelligence," a slew of generative AI-powered features within

native applications, and an integration with ChatGPT, the

chatbot developed by Microsoft ( MSFT )-backed OpenAI.

"We've seen a lot of AI announcements in a short burst of

time as of late. I don't think you want to sit on it too long if

you're Google," said IDC analyst Linn Huang.

New AI integrations announced on Tuesday include a

Pixel-only feature that lets users search for information stored

in screenshots. Android users can also now pull up Gemini,

Google's chatbot, as an overlay on top of another app to answer

questions or generate content.

Pixel 9, the base 6.3-inch display model, will retail at a

starting price of $799, which is $100 more than the previous

model. This and the 6.8-inch Pixel 9 Pro XL will begin shipping

later in August, a company spokesperson said. The Pixel 9 Pro,

which comes with added features like a better camera, and the

foldable Pixel 9 Pro Fold will ship in September.

The new gadgets are available to preorder on Tuesday.

Google holds less than 1% market share in global smartphone

shipments as of the second quarter of 2024, according to IDC. It

trails far behind Samsung's market share of 18.9%

and Apple's ( AAPL ) market share of 15.8%, according to IDC. That is in

part because Google has entered fewer markets and is focused on

higher-end price segments.

In the United States, Google's 4.5% share makes it the

fourth-biggest smartphone maker, according to IDC.

But the Pixel line has also enabled Google to show off

advances and spur the developer ecosystem around its Android

operating system, which is used by device manufacturers like

Samsung.

Android represents one of several frontlines where Google is

battling competitors to embed AI in ways that consumers will

use. In May, it debuted a swath of upgrades to core products

like its search engine.

The company's engineers redesigned the Pixel's exterior and

included camera upgrades as well as Google's new Tensor G4 chip.

Google announced new versions of its smartwatch, the Pixel

Watch 3, and Pixel Buds Pro 2 wireless earbuds on Tuesday as

well.