Google’s “Pixie” Assistant might have turned into something else

Back in 2023, there was a buzz about Google working on a new helper called “Pixie” for its Pixel phones. People thought it would launch with the Pixel 9, but that didn’t happen. Now, a fresh report from The Information says Pixie was real—an AI tool meant to handle tricky tasks across different apps using Google’s Gemini tech. It was supposed to be a Pixel-only feature, making life easier by pulling info from stuff like Gmail and Maps.

But here’s the twist: Google changed its plans. The big bosses, including Sundar Pichai, didn’t want Pixie to steal the spotlight from Gemini, their main AI assistant for all Android devices. So, they shrank Pixie’s role. Instead of being a full-on helper, parts of it seem to have morphed into “Pixel Screenshots,” a handy app (package name: com.google.android.apps.pixel.agent) that organizes and sums up your screenshots.

Another rumor mentions “Pixel Sense,” which might also borrow from Pixie’s ideas but focuses on smart suggestions rather than being a chatty assistant.
While Pixie’s grand dreams got toned down, its spirit lives on in these smaller, useful features. Google seems keen on keeping Gemini as the star while sprinkling Pixie’s magic into Pixel-specific tools. We’ll have to wait and see if more of Pixie pops up in future updates!