Past the Alphabet
Past the Alphabet is a weekly column that focuses on the tech world each in and out of the confines of Mountain View.
With Galaxy AI taking on the world now that the Galaxy S24 is out, my focus has switched again to what Google is planning with Bard. The corporate simply launched Imagen 2 picture era to Bard whereas increasing the attain of Gemini Professional to extra international locations and in additional languages.
That is all nice information, however it’s not precisely the information that I hoped for. No, I am not speaking about Gemini Extremely, which continues to be slated to reach someday this 12 months. As an alternative, I am nonetheless questioning the place on this planet Assistant with Bard is. Over the previous few weeks, we have been seeing extra leaks about what the interface will appear like, and that Google may even be rebranding it to simply “Gemini.”
Together with one of many more moderen leaks, Mishaal Rahman shared that Assistant with Bard might land as quickly as March. However, he goes on to disclose the factor I have been fearing essentially the most — the brand new Assistant will not be accessible on each system. In his tweet, Rahman says that the “Pixel Pill, Pixel Fold, and rumored Pixel Fold 2 seem on the deny record.”
Assistant with Bard has appeared a bit early within the Pixel Ideas app, giving us one other take a look at how the upcoming characteristic will work.Nevertheless it additionally reveals when it’s going to arrive and on what units it’s going to be accessible on. That is early data and may very well be unsuitable, however here is what I discovered:1)… https://t.co/qIgSJ60WMlJanuary 28, 2024
So principally, for those who’re utilizing any of the most effective Android telephones that are not a Pixel, you will not be capable to use it. Including insult to harm, for those who’re like me and spent $1,800 on the Pixel Fold, we may be **** outta luck.
For some time now, I have been feeling like Google and different Android cellphone makers have been barreling in direction of an Apple-like walled backyard expertise. As an alternative of being the “open platform for all,” Android is simply getting worse. Options are locked to sure units, corresponding to ECG and Blood Strain Monitoring, which do not work with the Galaxy Watch on a non-Samsung system.
Samsung getting “first dibs” on Put on OS, which primarily left Fossil with no selection however to bow out of the smartwatch phase altogether. There are extra examples, however they’re largely how Samsung throws cash at totally different corporations to have “unique performance.” I am you, Microsoft.
Now, it looks as if Google has realized the unsuitable issues after working side-by-side with Samsung for thus lengthy. What makes this entire state of affairs worse is that Google is fragmenting ITS OWN DEVICES. We have lastly reached the purpose the place fragmentation is not a unclean phrase, for essentially the most half, and Google decides to simply throw all of it away.
The Pixel 8 Professional getting options that the Pixel 8 does not have makes a tiny bit extra sense, however not a lot. The identical goes for the variations between the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Extremely, which largely comes all the way down to specs. That is to be anticipated, contemplating that is how cellphone makers have provided totally different telephones in the identical lineup for years.
Nevertheless, within the case of the Pixel Fold, for $1,800, not solely can I not get pleasure from or make the most of among the new AI-powered options introduced with the Pixel 8 collection, however I will not even be capable to use the brand new model of Assistant. Frankly, simply the considered that makes my blood boil. I anticipate it from Samsung. I anticipate it from Apple (in a special method.) I do not anticipate it from Google.
I am additionally conscious that it is simply hypothesis at this level, and Google might change its thoughts. Particularly contemplating that the rumored Pixel Fold 2 ought to be powered by at LEAST the Tensor G3, if not the Tensor G4. So it will make actually zero sense for Google Assistant with Gemini Bard to not be accessible on the corporate’s subsequent foldable.
If something, it is simply one other instance of why Google does not actually care concerning the {hardware} and does not care about its customers. As an alternative, anybody who buys a Pixel cellphone ought to solely accomplish that with the understanding that you are a beta person and Google is treating you as such.
Does Google even know what it is doing with Gemini, Assistant, and Bard?
However, if Google’s “grand plan” is to launch an overhauled and rebranded model of Assistant, what’s holding again the Pixel Fold from being included? Hell, if Mishaal is correct, the Tensor G1-powered Pixel 6 will get Google Assistant Gemini with Bard, which you’ll nonetheless purchase new from Amazon for underneath $350.
All of those simply lead additional credence to the concept that Google has no concept what it is doing with Bard or Gemini. After it was introduced, I wrote that I used to be “all aboard the Assistant with Bard hype practice.” Contemplating that Assistant with Bard hasn’t even pulled as much as the practice station but, I am actually leaning towards leaving the station.
Bard is cool, however so are ChatGPT, Perplexity, and hell, even Microsoft Copilot reveals plenty of promise. Google used to prepared the ground, a minimum of in the best way of Assistant, and now, it is simply wandering round aimlessly. Possibly that may change, and I hope that I’ve to eat my phrases, however, I actually do not suppose that’ll be taking place. Not less than not this time.
