August 14, 2024 – At its early morning Pixel 9 launch event, Google not only unveiled the new generation of Pixel phones and advanced AI features but also repeatedly took subtle jabs at its competitor, Apple. While it’s not uncommon for technology companies to compare themselves to their rivals during product launches, Google’s frequent “long-distance calls” seemed particularly noteworthy this time. This could be attributed to Google’s significant advantages in the AI field, where Apple is still taking its first steps.
The star of the show was Google’s Gemini AI. Sameer Samat, a Google executive, proclaimed that Gemini supports 45 languages and over 200 countries and regions, emphasizing its commitment to supporting more older and non-flagship Android devices. Samat pointedly mentioned, “Gemini is now available globally, far beyond just English and a single market,” a clear reference to Apple’s Apple Intelligence, which has not been widely rolled out and only supports American English.
Google also highlighted Gemini’s privacy advantages in handling tasks, stating that Gemini can process complex personal queries within Google’s secure cloud, eliminating the need to send any personal data to third-party AI providers that users might not be familiar with or trust. This was a subtle dig at Apple’s partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into Siri. When Siri cannot answer a question, it seeks permission from the user to seek help from ChatGPT.
It’s worth noting that to showcase some of Gemini’s AI capabilities, Google executive Dave Citron declared during the demonstration that all presentations were live. Despite a few minor hiccups, it was a stark contrast to Apple’s carefully orchestrated launches.
In terms of hardware, Google also drew comparisons with Apple. Google stated that the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL are identical in screen, design, craftsmanship, performance, and camera, differing only in size. This seemed to be a subtle nod to the disparities between Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, particularly in camera zoom and battery life.
Finally, Google directly compared the photography capabilities of the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Pixel 9 Pro. Google executive Kenny Sulaimon showcased the Pixel 9 Pro’s Night Sight Panorama mode, contrasting it with photos taken by the iPhone 15 Pro Max, implicitly suggesting that Apple’s night photography results are less impressive.
