Highlights:

  • Google deploys AI via the Assistant At A Glance widget, providing users with handy information on their home screen.
  • The Android team leverages AI for blind and low-vision users, enhancing image interactions in group chat, camera app photos, and social media through Image Q&A on Lookout.

The Android team at Google LLC is using AI to make it simpler for people to use the operating system that powers phones and other devices.

With its Assistant At A Glance widget, Google is utilizing AI to provide users with pertinent information on their home screen. Now, it can deliver precise weather warnings, moving travel updates, and event reminders like calendar events:  “Reminder: You have an appointment in 30 minutes. Get ready to go!”

The Android team is utilizing AI for blind and low-vision users even more by using Image Q&A on Lookout in group chat, camera app images, and social media. Lookout was introduced in 2019 and is made for people with vision impairments. It uses AI to assist users with daily tasks like sorting mail or putting groceries away. It also has a feature that enables users to “ask questions of images” using Google DeepMind’s AI model.

Users can type or speak out loud to ask follow-up questions to learn more after Lookout has provided a detailed description of what is displayed after an image has been opened. With this update, Lookout will be accessible in 11 additional languages, including Korean, Japanese, and Japanese. The total number of languages supported now stands at 34.

A new version of Google Wallet will make it simpler for users to add regular tickets, passes, and tickets with QR codes or barcodes, such as those on gym and library cards. They can scan a copy of the pass into secure storage and have a copy of it added to their Google Wallet using the new Google Wallet Pass photo import system.

They only need to open their Google Wallet app when they need to present it for use. Users can add to their digital wallets and decrease the overall quantity of paper and cards in their wallets.

New communication apps are coming to Android Auto, the smartphone application that enables users to use an Android phone’s features on a car’s entertainment system or dashboard. These apps will simplify staying in touch with friends and family while traveling. Users can now connect with Zoom and Webex from Cisco Systems Inc. from their console.

This will enable users to initiate and participate in audio conference calls and access meeting schedules from the car display. Android Auto will control active conference calls, allowing users to manage every aspect of their experience, including changing calls, muting their microphones, and ending calls.

Regarding health and wellness, activity and sleep data can be added from Fitbit or Google Fit into Routines to be personalized. By saying, “Hello Google, good morning,” users can use their “Good morning” Routine to get a little motivational boost. Their Android will then give them a summary of their sleep duration and start time.

Over the next few weeks, the Android team will roll out these new features to Android phones and devices.