Google Strikes Early: Pixel 9 Pro Aims to Be the AI Phone Benchmark, Challenging Apple's Dominance

Google Strikes Early: Pixel 9 Pro Aims to Be the AI Phone Benchmark, Challenging Apple's DominanceOn August 13th, US tech giant Google will hold a launch event at 10:00 AM Pacific Time (2:00 PM Beijing Time), revealing more details about its new smartphone, the Pixel 9 Pro. This event breaks Google's usual pattern of launching hardware products in October, and is interpreted by the outside world as an attempt by Google to seize the initiative before the iPhone launch, leveraging AI features to attract market attention

Google Strikes Early: Pixel 9 Pro Aims to Be the AI Phone Benchmark, Challenging Apple's Dominance

On August 13th, US tech giant Google will hold a launch event at 10:00 AM Pacific Time (2:00 PM Beijing Time), revealing more details about its new smartphone, the Pixel 9 Pro. This event breaks Google's usual pattern of launching hardware products in October, and is interpreted by the outside world as an attempt by Google to seize the initiative before the iPhone launch, leveraging AI features to attract market attention.

Google's website claims the launch will unveil a "new era for phones," hinting that artificial intelligence (AI) and Gemini will be key components of the Pixel 9 Pro. Besides the Pixel 9 Pro, the event might also showcase the foldable Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the Pixel Watch 3.

This isn't the first time Google has integrated AI technology into its phones. As early as 2022, the company showcased the Pixel 8, Pixel Watch 2, and Google Assistant, consistently exploring the application of AI in hardware products. However, Google remains behind Apple in the high-end market, and even lags behind brands like Samsung in Android phones.

Rick Osterloh, Google's Senior Vice President of Platforms and Devices, stated that Google has invested heavily in the Pixel phone series, including designing its own chips, sponsoring the NBA playoffs, and providing devices to superstars. However, he believes Google's AI advantage can help them change the status quo.

Sameer Samat, President of Google's Android business, said that under Osterloh's leadership, his team will push Google's AI from the lab to Android partners, accelerating the integration of AI innovation into the ecosystem and improving consumer experience.

Recently, due to the cooling of the AI craze and concerns about a US recession, technology investors are increasingly worried about Google's massive AI spending not yielding results, leading to a 15% drop in Alphabet's stock price since mid-July.

Tim Ghriskey, Senior Portfolio Strategist at Ingalls & Snyder LLC, said investors are hoping for some solid information about Google's AI products to help reverse the recent slump. Analysts predict Google will showcase some device-end AI products powered by its self-developed large language model, Gemini, at the launch event.

Analyst Mandeep Singh believes the delayed release of AppleIntelligence highlights Google's advantage with large language models. He said, "For the first time, I feel like Alphabet is taking hardware and smartphones seriously. It reflects Rick Osterloh's leadership."

This launch holds significant importance for Google. It's not only an opportunity to showcase its hardware prowess, but also a crucial chance to prove its AI technology's competitiveness in real-world applications. If the Pixel 9 Pro can successfully integrate AI into user experience and offer unique value, then Google could potentially challenge Apple's dominance in the high-end market and usher in a new era for the entire smartphone industry.