Google has created a new weather app for its new Pixel phones, including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Most interestingly, Google has integrated AI features into its Pixel Weather app, presumably to differentiate it from competitors.
I got a sneak peek at Pixel Weather at the Made by Google pre-event. Here’s what I saw:
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Google Pixel Weather App: What does it do?
Simply put, it’s an app that tells you what the weather is like. In terms of basic functionality, Pixel Weather is similar to the default weather app on your iPhone: You can use it to check hourly and 10-day forecasts, see weather radar maps for your area to track precipitation, and generally get an idea of what you need to prepare for on any given day.
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I only had a very brief hands-on experience with Pixel Weather, followed by an equally brief hands-off demo, and in my hands-on experience, I found no notable shortcomings compared to Apple’s equivalent app. only What I did notice was that it wasn’t animated as smoothly as the precipitation radar, which updates every hour, but this doesn’t really have a meaningful impact on your life.
Google Pixel Weather App: AI Features
As for the artificial intelligence features in Pixel Weather, they seem to be quite limited at the moment: the AI can write a quick summary of the weather for the day and some advice on how to deal with it, but that’s it.
It’s a little hard to see, but Pixel Weather’s AI is telling you it’s hot and you should put on sunscreen.
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To be more specific, the weather that day was 89 degrees Fahrenheit, with a felt temperature of 93 degrees Fahrenheit. Terrible weather. Anyway, when I asked for an AI summary of the weather, Pixel Weather returned this:
“It’s hot today, so please put on sunscreen when you go out in the morning.”
Admittedly, this isn’t very insightful and probably isn’t very useful — unless you plan on wearing sunscreen anywhere but at the pool or beach. It’s unclear whether the AI summary would be longer or more detailed than this. I’m not going to pass judgment on this feature based on a quick and easy summary of a very hot day, but it’s something to keep in mind.