Google addresses Android TV and affords some curious updates

Whereas mentions of Android TV and leisure had been curiously absent from Google I/O yesterday, it doesn’t suggest the corporate is not engaged on a number of fronts to advance its applied sciences. Immediately, Google introduced that it is bringing the Android 14 platform to TVs within the hopes of enhancing efficiency and accessibility. And naturally, generative AI shall be there too.

AI in Android TV

Gemini is coming

Whereas the Gemini rollout continues to be within the early phases, Google TV customers can count on to see some modifications with how they search and study new content material, a function I hoped Google’s generative AI may assist with when watching TV. Initially at the least, Google says AI will assist with person suggestions, and whereas I am not naive to guarantees made by huge tech corporations, I am very hopeful AI can ship much better concepts than algorithms than what Netflix comes up with (why does my line of “motion pictures from the 90s” embody movies launched final yr, I ask). There aren’t numerous particulars about the way it’ll work or simply how profitable the appliance is (and Google referred to “AI” and never “Gemini” within the video it launched), however chatting with Gemini yesterday about movie suggestions I used to be very inspired by the AI’s capability to “keep in mind” and notice key particulars and particular requests.

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Google additionally plans to supply customized descriptions for titles, a function that sounds fairly promising. The thought, it appears to me, is that Google will present descriptions of movies in a approach that higher resonates with every particular person viewer. I do know from expertise that the brief summaries obtainable on any variety of titles aren’t essentially consultant, or freed from spoilers, so generative AI ought to be capable to assist so much. Google additionally says AI will assist fill in summaries which may be lacking, and it is going to be in a position to translate descriptions for viewers as properly.

Design and performances

Aesthetics and accessibility

Google

Google is continuous to enhance the design and interface of its TV platform. Not too long ago, it improved the apps row, implementing smaller, spherical icons to permit for extra to be seen on display, whereas additionally permitting customers to customise the order.

Notably, Google has labored to create a extra handy “proceed watching” part that populates all of the titles throughout apps that you’re in the course of having fun with. So as a substitute of leaping from app to app to play the subsequent episode, you may choose proper off from the house display. An image-in-picture possibility may also be obtainable for appropriate apps.

Google is engaged on making a sooner platform, decreasing the reminiscence footprint of apps and implementing higher power-saving options. Chromecast may also enable for a quick pairing of headphones, so you may shortly join your listening gadget to the TV for a non-public expertise.

Google can also be enhancing accessibility options, together with providing coloration correction that features presets for frequent deficiencies, in addition to help for swap entry with digital D-pad and daring textual content choices.

It actually would not seem to be Android TV or Chromecast is on the prime of the to do listing for Google, however at the least it is getting a little bit of consideration with some attention-grabbing options on the best way.