New York — Google has introduced a new line-up of AI-enhanced Chromebook and Chromebook Plus laptops, featuring advanced capabilities such as the Gemini Advanced AI chat, Magic Editor for photo editing, and a Game Dashboard for gaming enhancements. This announcement follows Google's recent showcase of AI tools at its developers' conference, Google I/O.

The updated Chromebooks, including models from Acer, HP, and Asus, are set to hit the market this spring. The high-end Chromebook Plus models, priced between $350 and $700, offer users a suite of advanced features and come with a 12-month Google One AI Premium subscription. This plan includes Gemini Advanced, Gemini for Google Workspace, 2TB of cloud storage, and other premium services, valued at $20 per month.

Key Features and Enhancements

One of the most notable additions is the Game Dashboard, which enhances the gaming experience on Chromebooks. This feature allows users to remap touchscreen controls to keyboard keys, capture and share gameplay, and record webcam footage. The dashboard is accessible on all Chromebooks, but its capabilities are especially beneficial on gaming models like the $650 Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE, which boasts fast Wi-Fi, a 120Hz display, and an RGB backlit keyboard.

In addition to gaming enhancements, all Chromebooks will now feature Google Task integration for seamless to-do list management across Google Workspace, GIF screen recording via the built-in screen capture tool, and quick setup through QR code scanning with Android phones.

Future AI Innovations

Google is also planning to introduce gesture and face tracking to Chrome OS, enabling users to navigate and control their devices hands-free. This experimental feature allows for actions such as writing emails, browsing the web, and playing games using head movements and facial expressions. Users can enable this feature now through a Chrome OS flag.

Integration of Gemini Advanced

The Chromebook Plus models will come preinstalled with the Gemini Advanced chatbot app. This app assists with tasks such as writing, brainstorming, creating graphics, generating images, summarizing documents, and coding. A future update will introduce the "Help Me Read" feature, which summarizes webpages or documents and answers follow-up questions. While initial tests of Gemini have highlighted some inaccuracies, its integration into Chromebook Plus models underscores Google's commitment to enhancing user experiences through AI.

Conclusion

With the release of these new Chromebook and Chromebook Plus laptops, Google is pushing the boundaries of AI integration in personal computing. The advanced features, particularly in gaming and productivity, combined with the inclusion of Gemini Advanced, position these devices as powerful tools for both everyday users and tech enthusiasts.