Google Pixie instead of Google Assistant: New, more personalized AI helper to enhance the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro
The Information recently reported (1, 2), based on sources familiar with the matter, that Google is currently developing a new personal digital assistant under the name "Pixie". This is expected to be launched with the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro in the fall of 2024 and will presumably replace Google Assistant. In contrast to Google Assistant, Pixie is intended to exclusively enhance Pixel devices, thus likely benefiting the Pixel Watch and other Google products in the long term.
Thanks to access to Gmail, Google Maps and other well-known Google products, Pixie is set to become a much more personalized digital helper than Google Assistant and is likely to be based on Google's new AI model, Gemini. New, smart 'Google Glasses' with a camera are also apparently being discussed, which Pixie could utilize in the future to analyze objects that the wearer sees and then provide instructions on the use of certain tools or how to play an instrument.
Thanks to Gemini Nano, Pixie will primarily run on-device and therefore not only handle personal data faster but also more securely. Just a few weeks ago, Google officially announced the "Assistant with Bard", which will be available on other Android devices and even for iOS. Pixie, on the other hand, does not appear to be intended for the outside world in the long term and so could become an important sales argument for the Pixel 9 generation in 2024.