AI this. AI that. AI this, that, and the other thing, too. If you’re tired of hearing about AI-everything, you’re not alone. So am I, but I think there’s one benefit to AI on smartphones that we’re not discussing enough: processor leaps and extra RAM. And the Pixel 9 is a prime example of a phone that benefits from AI even if you, as a Pixel 9 buyer, don’t end up using a lot of these newfangled AI features.
Going back a step, I’ll acknowledge that AI done well can be very helpful, very relevant, and very life-changing — the Pixel’s set of smart calling features, Google Recorder, and Samsung’s document summarization are good examples of that. But other AI features I’ve tested so far just seem a bit superfluous and pointless to me. Artificially-generated wallpapers or emojis, message tone-modifying tools, and silly photo-editing methods are things I’ve tried a few times and promptly forgot about in my own daily use.