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Google I/O 2022 Live Blog: Follow the Announcements of Pixel 6A, Android 13, Pixel Watch and More

Google I/O is typically when the company announces new software coming in the fall. But it also gives a glimpse of future projects for AI, video chat and more.

Imad Khan
Ian Sherr

Google I/O 2022, the company's yearly developer's conference, has started, kicking off the tech industry's summer announcement season. For now, Google will be starting with a look at new software, Android 13, and potentially some new hardware too, like the Pixel 6A and Pixel Watch.

Bringing Google Translate to Augmented Reality Glasses

By Imad Khan

Pichai returned to the stage to close off the show and summarize the last 2 hours. From multidevice integrations and improvements in AI for Search, Pichai ended the keynote on a positive note, saying Google is helping people better understand the world. 

To demonstrate this point, a video showed a pair of AR glasses that can automatically translate languages in real time. The wearer can read a translation of what another person is saying as they speak. 

Real-Time AR Translation Glasses

By James Martin
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Pixel Tablet 2023

By Imad Khan

Google is expanding the entire Pixel lineup, including a Pixel Tablet for 2023. Google didn't reveal much about the Pixel Tablet, however. But Google is opening a store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn later this summer. 

Pixel Watch: Everything Google Revealed

By Imad Khan

Google announced its first in-house watch, which will launch alongside the Pixel 7. It will bring with it improved Google Maps features, not requiring a phone for navigation. Google will also bring its improved Google Wallet app to ride the subway and better integration with Google Home to see if a package has been dropped off. 

Importantly, Google said the Pixel Watch will be deeply integrated with Fitbit. It will have "industry-leading" fitness information. More information will come later this year. 

Pixel Tablet Coming in 2023

By James Martin
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Pixel Watch

By James Martin
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Pixel Buds Pro: Everything Google Said

By Imad Khan

The Pixel Buds Pro are the first Google-made buds with ANC, or active noise cancellation. They're designed around a new six-core audio processor, using Google-made algorithms and a neural processing engine to cancel audio in real time through custom speakers. 

The Pixel Buds Pro will use "silent seal" technology to ensure noise doesn't leak through. 

Google says it's using this system to allow a persons voice to be picked up clearly while tuning out outside noise, like wind. The buds will also have multidevice connectivity so they'll be able to automatically switch between devices. And later in the year, Google will update the Pixel Buds Pro for spatial audio. 

You can also use the Find My Device app to find a single bud on a map. 

The Pixel Buds Pro will launch at $199. Preorders start on July 21 and will go on sale on July 28. 

Pixel Watch Coming This Fall

By James Martin
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Pixel Buds Pro Starting at $199

By James Martin
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What Google Revealed About the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro

By Imad Khan

The Pixel 7 has a similar design to the Pixel 6. Housing and Camera bar are made with a single piece of recycled aluminum. There's polished glass on the back of the phone. It will use the next generation of its Tensor SOC. Both phones will ship with Android 13. 

And that's all Google showed off. No word on the release date. 

Pixel Buds Pro Transparency Mode

By James Martin
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Pixel 6A Preorders Start on July 21

By Imad Khan

Pixel 6A preorders will begin on July 21 for $449. It will come in three colors and will be available in-store in July 28. 

Pixel Buds Pro

By James Martin
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Pixel 7

By James Martin
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Pixel 7 and 7 Pro Preview

By James Martin
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The Pixel 6A Has All the Same Pixel 6 Features

By Imad Khan

The Pixel 6A will have the same AI photo features found on the Pixel 6. This includes magic eraser, to remove unwanted items on a photo and recoloring items within a photo so it better blends into a scene. It will also include Real Tone and Night Sight for better skin tones and low-light photography. 

Live Translate will be available on the 6A. The phone will also have the Titan M2 security chip, an under-display fingerprint sensor and it'll get five years of security updates. 

Real Tone

By James Martin
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Pixel 6A Announced

By Imad Khan

The Pixel 6 was a popular phone for Google, selling more than the 4 and 5 combined. The Pixel 6A is a budget version of that flagship, which launched last year. It will run $449, sport a 6.1-inch display, dual-rear 12MP cameras in a recycled aluminum frame.

Obviously, Google is touting its Tensor chip, first launched on the Pixel 6. The chip had baked-in cores to help for AI-related tasks. The Pixel 6A chip will use the same SOC as the Pixel 6 Pro. This means the 6A runs five times faster than the 6A. 

Pixel 6A From $449

By James Martin
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Android 13 Beta Available Today

By James Martin
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Android 13 Beta Coming Today

By Imad Khan

The Android 13 Beta is coming today. Already, we've seen Oppo and OnePlus announce a developer beta for Android 13. 

Fast Pair connectivity

By James Martin
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Improving Android Across All Devices

By Imad Khan

Google is working with partners to add casting to more products. This fall, phone hub will bring messaging to Chrome OS devices. This will allow you to respond to text messages on a tablet. You'll also be able to copy and paste between phones and tablets. 

Fast Pair will make Bluetooth connectivity between your devices faster and easier. 

Tablet Improvements

By Imad Khan

Google has redesigned Android for large screen devices like tablets and foldables. This includes drop-down menus that better take advantage of the added real estate. Android will also do a better job of working with two apps side by side. This includes being able to drag a photo to an email. 

Today, Google will be updating 20 of its apps for large screens. This means the tablet version of Google Maps will add more information and Google Messages will have a two-column view. TikTok and Facebook will look more natural on tablet as well. 

Emergency SOS to Wear OS and Android

By Imad Khan

A Google Watch will soon be able to send emergency messages. Phones will also be able to detect vibrations to let people know of an oncoming earthquake. It can also pool data to let people get to safety before a catastrophic event hits them. 

New Google Wallet and Digital Government IDs

By Imad Khan

Google has redesigned its Google Wallet app so it can do more than just store credit cards. Google Wallet will now integrate student IDs, park passes, Disney World cards, vaccine cards and state and federal IDs. Google will start with driver's licenses allowing you to share your ID with an NFC tap. 

Read moreGoogle Wallet Gets Better Support For IDs, Transit Passes and Privacy

Digital Driver's License

By James Martin
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Google Wallet

By James Martin
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Android 13 and the Multidevice Future

By Imad Khan

Google unveiled Android 13 at Google I/O 2022. Google says it's tuned to a multidevice future. The company says that it'll have multiple languages baked in, so you can engage with a social media app in one language, for example, and banking in another.

Google also showed off Rich Communication Services and implored carriers and phone manufacturers to make Google Messages their default messaging app. RCS is much like WhatsApp or iMessage, but for text messages. 

Private Messaging

By James Martin
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Android 13

By James Martin
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Android

By James Martin
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Removing Your Data from Google Search

By Imad Khan

Google will add more ways for people to remove personal information from Google Search. This doesn't remove information from the internet, however. Google didn't reveal too much during its live presentation, but we do have a story that goes into greater detail

Protecting User Data from Advertisers

By Imad Khan

Google will launch My Ad Center later this year. This will allow you to control which types of ads you like and which ones you don't. You can access your My Ad Center from the Google App.

Expanded Privacy Controls

By James Martin
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Google Doubles Down on User Privacy

By Imad Khan

Google announced Protected Computing, a system that will blur data to help anonymize its users. Using AI and cloud computing changes where and how data is processed. Google will also minimize data used from a person, so that it's harder to over index. Google says it will collect less and delete more The company restrict access so that companies, including Google, to not over-use your personal data. 

Virtual Cards and 2-Step Verification for Everyone

By Imad Khan

Google is bringing virtual cards to Android and Chrome users. This would generate a virtual credit card number when buying items online. This keeps the numbers hidden from retailers, reducing the risk of fraud and identity theft. Google is working with Visa, Mastercard and American Express and will launch it later this summer. 

Google is also pushing ahead into a future without passwords. Not only is it enabling two-step verification as a default for all, but will create an authentication system that will use multiple systems so that people don't have to remember hundreds of passwords. 

Protected Computing

By James Martin
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Virtual Card Security

By James Martin
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Protecting Private Information

By Imad Khan

The Colonial Pipeline attack and the Log4J vulnerability show that many systems can leave user information at risk. With the war in Ukraine, DDOS attacks put down many Ukrainian sites trying to get information out there. Google expanded Project Shield to help protect these sites. Google said it would invest $10 billion to modernize vulnerable systems, secure the software supply chain and train new cybersecurity professionals. 

Phishing scams are responsible for 90% of cyberattacks. Google is using AI to catch phishers before they get to users. The company is adding phishing protections to Google Docs, Sheets and Slides. 

Google Security

By James Martin
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AI to Help Make Search Smarter

By Imad Khan

Using chain-of-thought prompting, the PALM AI model Google has developed allows developers to see how the AI thinks through questions. 

Pichai showed how the AI model works across multiple languages. For example, if you run a search in Bengali for for the best pizza in New York, the model can search for queries in English, meaning a person from Bangladesh will get the correct information.

LaMDA 2: Google's Most Advanced Conversational AI

By Imad Khan

People search in weird ways. Google developed LaMDA to help Search understand what people are searching for. With LaMDA 2, the conversation model can better keep the AI on track and continue giving relevant information. During a live demo, when asked "I want to plant a vegetable garden" LaMDA was able to give not only relevant information, but additional tips that the searcher may not have considered. Live, Google was able to show tips that the tester had never seen before. 

On stage, Pichai acknowledged that there are chances for the AI to develop offensive or inaccurate answers. Pichai wants to work with software users and developers to make LaMDA better.

Even Nicer Looking Maps

By Ian Sherr

Google introduced a new Maps feature, Immersive View, at Google I/O 2022. It gives a rotating 3D view of cities from the air, including live traffic and weather.

Read more: Google Maps Will Soon Give You a Drone's-Eye View of Cities and Restaurants

Look and Talk Voice Controls

By James Martin

Google's Work on Diversity and Skin Tone

By Ian Sherr

You'll notice the Monk Skin Tone Scale in beauty related searches, but Google is also building it deeply into its AI infrastructure, it says at Google I/O.

Read more: Google Adopts 10-Step Skin Tone Scale to Teach Diversity to Its AI

Better Skin Tone Representation

By Imad Khan

Google will use the Monk Skin Tone Scale, to better represent skin tone in photos and Search. When searching for makeup, you can filter by relevant skin tone. The scale was developed by Ellis Monk, associate professor of Sociology at Harvard University.

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Google Skin Tone Representation at Google I/O 2022. 

Google

Google says it's making its skin tone guide open source, allowing all companies and researchers to use this technology. The goal is to improve it over time with the rest of the industry. If you're interested, read more at skintone.google

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Skintone is open source at Google I/O 2022. 

Google

Can't Wait for Android 13 in the Fall? You Can Download It Now

By Ian Sherr

The Android 13 beta is now available to the public. But be warned, it's test software that can mess with your device. Most experts say you should only install beta software on devices you don't rely on.

Read more: How to Download the Android 13 Beta Right Now

Combining Images and Text with Multisearch

By Imad Khan

Google revealed Multisearch earlier this year. This allows you to take a photo, search with that photo and variate that search with text. For example, taking a photo of a red dress can bring up similar results, but you can add "green" to give results for that dress in a different hue. 

Well, Google is adding a "near me" function to help you take a photo and see if that item is available nearby. So, if you're looking for a specific part when fixing a sink, you can take a photo of that part and see if it's on sale near you. 

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Multisearch Near Me

Google

Scene exploration is a powerful new search tool. You can take a picture of a scene and get relevant information. For example, if you take a photo of a store shelf full of chocolate bars, you can pan your camera up to see which bars have the highest reviews, helping you pick the best one instantly, instead of searching for each of them individually. 

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Scene Search with Multisearch

Google

Read more: Google Turns Your Phone Camera Into a Smarter Search Engine

Improved Image Quality on Google Meet

By Imad Khan

Google Meet will see improved audio and video quality thanks to Project Starline, first announced at Google I/O 2021. Studio quality virtual lighting will also be coming to Google Meet, adding a light filter over a person's face to make them look more vibrant. 

TL;DR

By Imad Khan

Google is bringing an auto-summarizing feature that will use AI to help give you a TL;DR (too long; didn't read) of a large document. This will come to Google Chat as well, letting you get the highlights of a long chat conversation. 

Updates to YouTube and Bringing Accurate Information From Ukraine

By Imad Khan

Updated chapters will help users find the right part of a YouTube video. Using speech recognition models, it will auto-generate chapters and add auto-translated captions. Google is adding the Ukrainian language to auto-translated captions to help bring more accurate information from YouTubers to viewers around the world. 

See Inside a Restaurant with Google Maps

By Imad Khan

Google will use AI to create internal renderings of a restaurant based on available images. 

Google Maps Using Computer Vision to Increase Number of Buildings

By Imad Khan

Google Maps will use computer vision to increase the number of buildings on a map. This means that small homes in African can be visible on maps.

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Google Maps at I/O 2022.

Google

Advances in 3D mapping, Google Maps will create a 3D rendering of a city. For example, you can look at a live 3D view of London, see the the weather and traffic. 

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3D Live View of London in Google Maps as shown at Google I/O 2022.

Google

Google also showed off more eco-friendly routing, which directs you to routes that save on fuel. 

Google Translate Gets a Massive Update

By Imad Khan

Pichai says that Google is now using AI to help with translation. The company is adding 24 new languages to Google Translate. This includes the first indigenous language of the Americas. 

Google I/O 2022 Starting!

By Imad Khan

CEO Sundar Pichai has taken the stage at Google I/O 2022. Be sure to tune in on our YouTube Channel if you're able. If not, we'll continue updating this liveblog throughout.

Google I/O 2022

By James Martin
Google I/0 2022

Google Pixel 6A Leaks Ahead of I/O

By Imad Khan

Leaker Evan Blass has posted a picture on Twitter of a supposed Pixel 6A. 

It might feature a 12.2MP dual-pixel wide and a 12MP ultrawide lens. Expect a 60Hz 6.1-inch display, per 9to5Google. Unsurprisingly, a Tensor chip will likely be included with 6GB of RAM. A massive 4,306-mAh battery should keep the phone topped up for a full day of use. 

The Start of Tech Conference Season

By Ian Sherr

Google I/O isn't just an event for Google. It's also the beginning of tech conference season, when we get new software news across the industry. After Google will be Microsoft, which holds its Build developer conference May 24 to 26. 

Then there will be Apple, whose Worldwide Developers Conference will kick off June 6. CNET will be covering all the announcements from each of these events, so stick with us for the details!

Android 13 is Already Kinda Here

By Imad Khan

Android 13 hasn't officially been announced, but that hasn't stopped phone-maker Oppo from releasing a developer preview for its Find X5 Pro flagship, as reported by 9to5Google. Instructions on how to install the Android 13 developer preview can be found on Oppo's support page. There's no word on when public testing will be made available. OnePlus also opened up its Android 13 preview earlier today.