Long Rumored ‘Pixie’ Assistant to Arrive on Pixel 10 as ‘Pixel Sense?’

At Google I/O in 2024 Sundar Pichai stood on stage and talked through a rather impressive demo that hinted at what Google’s Assistant replacement Gemini could be in the future. In this demo, Pichai showed an enhanced (and at the time imaginary) version of Google Gemini that was able to do take several steps that branched across multiple apps in a row with only one command.

He points Gemini at a photo of a pair of shoes and says “I want to return these.” Gemini understood what they were, searched his Gmail for a receipt, found the return form, filled it out, scheduled a UPS pickup and added it to your calendar.

Based on limited leaks and reporting, I had previously made the case that this was what Google’s rumored “Pixie” was all about, but new reporting makes it sound like Google is about to head in new, yet old direction..

Pixie is Pixel Sense

For a while now, there have been rumors of some sort of enhanced version of Gemini, exclusive to Pixel devices, which was rumored to be called Pixie. As I said in June of last year, that name certainly can’t stick. Pixel Pixie? Come on. Now, Android Authority’s sources tell them this new assistant will be called Pixel Sense and it will launch with the Pixel 10.

Pixel Sense will be able to interface with a huge number of Google apps as well as process media files and text. According to Android Authority, Pixel Sense will provide predictive suggestions for “places, products and names“ based on your use of the device. While running directly on your phone, likely with Gemini Nano, Pixel Sense is meant to be a smart and context-aware assistant that knows what you’re up to and helps you do those things.

Google Now Reborn?

Based on what is being reported here, it’s unclear to me whether or not the kind of thing Sundar showed on stage will be achieved or even attempted with Pixel Sense. It could be that Google is taking a totally difference approach compared to where everyone else is now firmly headed. Rather than just creating an assistant which can accomplish tasks you ask, they appear to be creating an assistant that accomplishes tasks before you ask. This reminds me a lot of a supercharged version of Google Now from back all those years ago.