Google on Wednesday unveiled new Pixel 10 smartphones that promise more artificial intelligence capabilities, as it seeks to elbow out competition in the emerging AI-assistant market, AFP reports.
Comedian Jimmy Fallon hosted a launch event in Brooklyn that blended Google product pitches with stars such as The Jonas Brothers band and Stephen Curry of the Golden Gate Warriors basketball team.
"This is exciting," Fallon, host of NBC's "The Tonight Show," said in an opening monologue.
"It's like a Taylor Swift announcement for nerds."
The line-up of new products included a foldable phone, improved Pixel smartwatch, and ear buds all synced to work with AI and each other.
"Pixel continues to be the best way for people to try out the latest bleeding-edge AI from Google," product manager Tyler Kugler said during a briefing with journalists.
Pixel phones claim a scant portion of a high-end smartphone market ruled by Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi, but custom Google hardware is an opportunity for the internet giant to highlight what is possible with its Android mobile operating system and the Gemini AI assistant.
While Samsung routinely ranks as the world's top smartphone seller, its products run on Android software.
"Initially, Google Pixel devices were designed as a technological showcase to limit Android fragmentation and accelerate innovation," said Forrester principal analyst Thomas Husson.
"Ten years later, the strategic challenge is still not to become the market leader, but to demonstrate the value of Google's integrated ecosystem."
Pixel 10 prices start at $799, with the Pixel Pro Fold model starting at $1,799.
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