Google's Pixel 9 Launch Stirs Controversy Amid Competition with Apple's iPhone

Google's Big Pixel Event Puts the Pressure on Apple's iPhone 16

Bridget has spent over 18 years as a consumer tech reporter, hosting daily tech news shows and writing syndicated newspaper columns. She's often a guest on national radio and television stations, including ABC, CBS, CNBC and NBC. At Google's Pixel phone reveal event, the company did something that set my tech reporter heart aflutter: It showed off new AI features live on stage in front of an audience. Live product demos are rarely seen anymore, as companies have turned the once intimate product reveal event into a 90-minute highly produced commercial. And Google was dealing with generative AI, where going live is more risky than ever before. This was a power move by the tech giant, and it was refreshing to see. Of course it didn't go perfectly. A processing hiccup with the first demonstration left the poor host pleading to the "demo spirits." Another demo involved generating the image of a hot air balloon, resulting in an orange blob that our stage host called "a little abstract." Several other Google Gemini AI demos went smoothly. But what AI can generate is often unpredictable. And the Google team knew it couldn't guarantee perfection (which is why it repeatedly reminded the audience of how this was live). But being real is what consumers need now more than ever, in an age of artificially generated content. In this week's episode of One More Thing, which you can watch embedded above, I go over what I'd like to see Apple copy from Google's event -- including the return of the live stage demo, and certain features that debuted in the Pixel 9 phones and Pixel watches. For the past few years, tech companies have referred to AI like it's magic. When reality doesn't match the sales pitch, it feels, frankly, like we're being sold snake oil. We need more honesty in talking about AI, or customers will get annoyed quickly by these unrealistic expectations. All eyes will be on Apple in September when the next iPhones are expected to be revealed, along with the upcoming release of the company's AI effort called Apple Intelligence. But adding to the pressure is that Google and Samsung already showed off all their best smartphone AI tricks this year. (Usually Google holds its Pixel event after Apple's iPhone event.) Apple might need to do a little more to convince people that it's worth upgrading to an iPhone 16, since they've already seen all the new stuff Google bragged it can do with Pixel devices. As an iPhone owner, I was left wishing we could have the Pixel's more advanced panorama night photos. And I wish the Apple Watch could have the Pixel's ability to put incoming phone calls on hold. I'd also like to see the Apple Watch, like the Pixel, be able to contact emergency services for help if an owner's heart stops beating. In the smartphone battle, imitation is part of the game. Google also often copies Apple. This week, Google announced it added Satellite SOS, similar to Apple's Emergency SOS, to call for help when there's no cellular reception. With a little patience, all phones seem to eventually get the same features. But it'll be interesting to see how we get there.

Be careful which Google Pixel 9 reviews you read, creators told to prefer Pixel over other devices

Ahead of the iPhone 16, Apple Watch X, and Apple Intelligence launch in the coming months. Google has taken the covers off its brand-new flagship smartphones, its latest smartwatch, and a slew of new AI features coming to its Google Gemini platform. As these things usually go, Google is sending out review samples for the Pixel 9 to creators, ahead of them shipping to customers in the coming weeks. But things might not be going so smoothly. Several reviewers have revealed that Google is requiring creators in the Team Pixel program to prefer the Pixel 9 over other devices in reviews. One tech reviewer, Mark's Tech, shared a leaked screenshot from the Team Pixel program for creators. It includes a "Brand Love" section where users must agree that other brands must not be preferred in reviews over the Pixel 9, or Google will cease their relationship with the creator. Brutal, I know. In a subsequent tweet, Mark pointed out that Team Pixel is run by a PR firm that Google uses, called 1000heads. So it is possible that Google didn't directly ask for this to be a stipulation, but the responsibility for this decision still lies with Google. This is really not a great look for Google. Requiring positive feedback like this is not acceptable. In fact, it's actually against the law. If Google's Team Pixel program requires creators to favor Pixel devices over other brands in reviews, this must be disclosed as a sponsorship according to FTC guidelines. Failing to do so can be considered deceptive advertising. So this is quite a big mistake for Google. Not only that, but it calls into question which reviews of the Pixel 9 devices you can trust. While some creators have ceased partnerships with Team Pixel since this leak, not all have. You can understand that smaller creators may want to keep a good relationship with a brand as large as Google, but a responsibility to audiences must trump this. If you're considering a Pixel 9 device, be careful which reviews you read, to ensure you're not reading one that's biased towards Google due to this Team Pixel agreement. In the past, Apple and other brands (including Google) have been accused for blacklisting reviewers for negative feedback. While perhaps not the most ethical of decisions, at least this doesn't break any laws. Google might have to do some damage control for this one.