Alphabet Inc.’s Google has introduced the second generation of its artificial intelligence model, Gemini, marking a significant step forward in its AI offerings.
The technology giant also hinted at new AI applications, including smart eyeglasses, as part of its strategy to redefine human-computer interaction.
At present, there is no study available on the market share of AI companies. Google says its AI solutions are available to 2 billion users. Google’s AI Overviews reach 1 billion people.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai, in a blog post, has described this as the dawn of a “new agentic era,” where virtual assistants can operate with greater independence. “They can understand more about the world around you, think multiple steps ahead, and take action on your behalf, with your supervision,” Sundar Pichai explained.
First launched in December 2023, the Gemini model now comes in four versions, with the Flash model receiving an update to enhance performance and enable image and audio processing. The company plans to release upgrades to other Gemini models next year.
Google’s AI integration strategy focuses on embedding its advancements into widely used applications such as Search, Android, and YouTube. These platforms, which boast over 2 billion monthly users each, provide Google with a distinct advantage over startups and competitors like OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI.
During a media showcase, Google demonstrated new capabilities of Project Astra, a universal AI agent prototype. Astra can analyze real-time smartphone camera inputs, hold multilingual conversations, and process data from Google Maps and Lens. The company also revealed plans to test Astra on prototype eyeglasses, marking its re-entry into the smart glasses arena following the earlier Google Glass project, Reuters news report said.
The eyeglasses align with emerging competition in the augmented reality space, including Meta’s recently unveiled AR glasses.
Google also previewed:
Project Mariner: A Chrome extension to automate routine tasks such as keystrokes and mouse clicks.
Jules: A tool designed to streamline software coding processes.
AI Overviews: An enhanced search feature powered by the Gemini 2.0 Flash model.
Gaming Decision Support: Tools to help users make choices in video games.
These developments come as Microsoft-backed OpenAI diversifies its offerings, including a premium ChatGPT subscription and a text-to-video model called Sora. Google’s aggressive push reflects its determination to reclaim its position as a leader in the AI race.
Alphabet President Ruth Porat emphasized the central role of AI in Google’s strategy, particularly in search, during the Reuters NEXT conference in New York. With these latest advancements, Google aims to maintain its edge in an increasingly competitive field.
