Did Google Just Steal Apple’s AI Thunder, or Does Tim Cook Have an Ace Up His Sleeve?

Apple Intelligence Boasts a Killer Feature Google Lacks

As I reflect on the recent Made for Google event, where Google unveiled a slew of new products including the Google Pixel 9 phones, Google Pixel Watch 3, and Google Pixel Buds 2 Pro, it’s clear that the real star of the show wasn’t the hardware. Instead, it was the software, specifically Gemini Live, Google’s all-encompassing AI digital assistant integrated into Android 15.

Google showcased an impressive AI feature: the ability to converse with your phone as if it were a human. This next-level digital assistant, Gemini Live, truly stole the spotlight, despite a couple of cringe-worthy moments when the live demo failed spectacularly. It’s surprising that Google continues to risk live demos given their history of mishaps.

Gemini Live offers more than just conversation. You can snap a picture of a poster for an event and ask if you’re free on that date, or take a photo of your fridge contents and get meal suggestions. These features highlight the potential of AI to transform how we interact with our devices.

However, the AI world is never quite finished. Gemini’s most useful integrations, such as checking your Calendar and Gmail to answer questions like, “Can you remind me what Tim said about the bowling game next week?” are still labeled as ‘coming soon.’ AI rollouts are notoriously rocky, and Bloomberg has already cast doubts on Apple’s ability to have Apple Intelligence fully functional in time for the iPhone 16 launch this September.

AI is still searching for its place on our devices, but Google Gemini is clarifying its main benefit: fundamentally changing phone interactions. While AI image manipulation features from both Apple and Google are impressive, they often feel like gimmicks—great for demos but not much else.

The real test of who has the superior AI, Apple or Google, will come with the iPhone 16 launch and the opportunity to test Siri beyond its beta versions. Google has set a high bar for natural conversation with Gemini Live, but Apple might have a trump card: price. Apple Intelligence will be free for iPhone 15 Pro or newer models and Macs with M-series processors, while Gemini Live requires a $20 monthly subscription for Gemini Advanced. For once, Apple seems poised to outdo Google by offering a free service.