Jimmy Fallon attempted to hype the Pixel 10 launch by shouting about IP68 but came across as unable to fake excitement. IP68 water resistance has been present in Pixel phones since the 2018 Pixel 3. Google staged an over-the-top Pixel 10 live event with paid celebrity appearances and hosted spectacle. The Pixel 10 integrates AI into photography, messaging, call translation, and real-world assistance. The celebrity-heavy presentation made Google seem out of touch and provoked social media backlash. Clear, real-world AI demonstrations would have better highlighted the product's consumer-facing advances than the star-driven show.
Fallon, who likely had never heard the technical term before, didn't seem to realize that IP68 - a rating that indicates phones can survive being submerged in water - isn't all that interesting as a selling point, nor is this water resistance feature new to Google's Pixel line. It's been around since the 2018 Pixel 3. We're on the Pixel 10 now, for reference.
In a surreal moment that illustrated the tendency to overhype anything associated with AI advances, Google decided to pull out all the stops for its Pixel 10 live event on Wednesday. Google's new phones, of course, are interesting on their own merits, as they showcase how Google is integrating AI into everyday consumer experiences like taking photos, texting friends, translating phone calls, getting help out in the real world, and more.
The awkward event made Google feel out of touch, however. It also suggests that the company felt it needed buzz to cover up for a lack of tech advances, which is not the case. Whether people like it or not, Google is rushing ahead of Apple to put AI into the hands of consumers through its smartphones. Had the tech giant focused on that and shown real-world examples - not those involving celebrity racecar drivers, basketball stars, or Peloton personalities - it would have been better off.
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