Google I/O 2023 live blog: Pixel Fold, Pixel 7a and more announced

Google made several announcements during the Google I/O 2023 event, including both hardware and software reveals, with AI proving to be the central theme.
We’ve listed all of the biggest announcements below, while also including our live blog so you can look back at all of the individual reveals as they happened. Keep reading on to see what Google announced:


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Google Pixel Fold
The Google Pixel Fold was finally officially announced following years of leaks and rumours. As its name implies, this is a foldable phone with a bendy 7.6-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. Google has called the hinge “the most durable hinge out there” while also claiming it’s the thinnest foldable phone yet (at least in the territories that the Pixel Fold will be available in.
It will also be powered by the Google G2 Tensor chip, adopting all of the clever AI tricks as the Pixel 7 series. The Pixel Fold also has an impressive camera array, made up of a 48MP main, 10.8MP ultrawide and 10.8MP telephoto sensor.
The Pixel Fold doesn’t come cheap though, with a starting price of £1749/$1799 for the 215GB model. We’ve still had no word on how much the 512GB will cost. The Pixel Fold will launch in June 2023, with pre-orders available now which will secure you a Pixel Watch.

Google Pixel 7a
The Google Pixel 7a is a new mid-range phone from Google, sporting an upgraded 90Hz screen and the new G2 Tensor chip which is the same processor found in the more expensive Google Pixel 7 phones.
The main camera apparently sports a 72% larger sensor than the Pixel 6a, which we expect to make a big difference to your photography.
The Google Pixel 7a is priced at £449/$499, making it slightly more expensive than previous iterations. The Pixel 7a will launch as soon as 1 May 2023.

Google Pixel Tablet
Google is diving into the tablet market with the new Pixel Tablet. Google has confirmed it will sport a 10.95-inch LCD display and the Tensor G2 chip.
Google said it will be making numerous optimisations to apps to improve the experience on Android via a tablet.
The Google Pixel Tablet will launch on 20 June 2023, with a starting price of £599.

Android 14
Google also teased a number of new features coming to Android 14. AI generative wallpapers will make it easier to personalise your homescreen, while Google suggests it will provide improved battery efficiency.
Android phones will soon gain access to features such as Magic Editor too, allowing you to easily edit a photo with modifications such as changing the position of a person or altering the sky and lighting of a scene.

Google Bard
Google spent a large chunk of its presentation discussing what kind of new features can be achieved by using the artificial intelligence from Bard.
Gmail and Google Docs will soon be able to offer suggestions via Help Me Write functionality. You could ask Google to write a job description via a seven-word prompt, and Bard will sort out the rest.
Bard will also be able to work with other apps and services such as Maps and Google Images. It will even comply with third-party services such as Adobe Firefly, creating AI generated images on request.
It’s clear to see that Bard will be a huge component for Google’s web and app services going forward.
Live Blog
The Google Pixel Tablet's versatility as a smart home tablet is really appealing. If there's a bundle that includes multiple charging docks then I may trade in my Amazon Echos and invest in the Pixel Tablet instead.

I'm really looking forward to the Pixel Fold, not only in terms of the hardware but software improvements that should finally make the big-screen foldable experience truly work. That mainly comes in the form of third-party app support, which has been the big issue with all book-style foldables until this point. I'm also looking forward to high-end cameras on a foldable for a change, especially with Google's AI prowess!

The source and quality of information generated by Google Bard remains a major concern, but its new capabilities are, undoubtedly intriguing. New features like support for 20+ programming languages as well as the integration of Google Lens, Maps and Sheets and, even, Adobe Firefly could all be big timesavers.
Next up, our team has whipped together some early thoughts on the new Pixel hardware
How about a foldable phone? Check out our Google Pixel Fold guide for a in-depth look at the newly revealed foldable. It has a large inner 7.6-inch screen, which effectively takes the form of a tablet when unfolded. It also has an outer 5.8-inch panel. Its camera setup is made up of a 48MP main, 10.8MP ultrawide and 10.8MP telephoto. The Pixel Fold will be powered by the Tensor G2 chip. The Google Pixel Fold has a whopping starting price of £1749/$1799. Those who pre-order from the Google Store will recieve a free Google Pixel Watch. The Fold will lauch in June 2023.

Thinking about buying a new phone? Then have a read of our Google Pixel 7a guide. For a quick summary, the mid-range phone has an upgraded 90Hz screen and an improved camera that's 72% larger than that of the Pixel 6a. It's also powered by the latest Tensor G2 chipset. The Google Pixel 7a is available to pre-order right now, and will ship from tomorrow on 11 May 2023. It has a starting price of £449/$499.

After using the Pixel 7a for a few days, it's clear this should be a very popular device.
Yes, there has been a price jump but considering what's new I think it's more than fair. The camera is better than the 6a, it's faster and includes nice extras like wireless charging and a 90Hz screen. For a more in-depth look, check out my Google Pixel 7a Review: First Impressions.

Fancy a closer look at the Pixel Tablet? Then check out our Pixel Tablet guide right here. As a quick summary, it is powered by the Google Tensor G2 processor and features a 10.95-inch LCD display with a 2560 x 1600 resolution. It will launch on 20 June 2023 with a starting price of £599.

And that's the end of the Google I/O 2023 event! But don't disappear just yet. I'll be sharing some of our newly published articles right here so you can read a more in-depth analysis of each new device.
That looks to be the full Google hardware lineup: the Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet and Pixel 7a.
The Google Pixel Fold has a starting price of $1799. Preorders are open today, which will bag you a Pixel Watch for free. The Pixel Fold will launch next month (in June 2023) although no specific date has been confirmed.
Google is demonstrating how you can take an ultra-wide selfie with the Pixel Fold when the phone is folded flat. The rear cameras can combine with the selfie camera to improve your selfie quality.
Now Google is showing off YouTube on the Pixel Fold. When folding the phone, the video will continue to play on the top screen, while playback controls jump to the lower screen. It looks very seamless.
Google has shown a new feature called 'Continuity' which maintains your phone's on-screen image when flipping through the various screen modes on the Pixel Fold.
Google Pixel Fold will run on Android... what a shock! Now Google is back talking about Android 14.
The Pixel Fold can use both displays in dual-screen mode, which can be useful for scenarios such as translating conversations for two different people.
Now Google is talking about the camera, offering the "highest quality" selfies. Google says it's the "best foldable camera system".
Google says it done extensive testing to make sure the Pixel Fold is durable with numerous folds and flexes.
The Pixel Fold has 3x the screen space of a standard phone. Google says its essentially a tablet when unfolded.
Google says it's the thinnest foldable phone on the market (that Pixel phones are sold in).
The Google Pixel Fold has been announced. It's sporting a G2 Tensor processor.
Here we go, Google is now talking about foldable smartphones.
And breathe! But this event isn't over just yet. We're expecting one more big reveal. Stay tuned!
The Pixel Tablet starts at $499. It is available for pre-order right now. The charging speaker dock will be included in the package.
A new redisgned Google Home app will allow you to make the tablet the centre of your smart home, with compatibility with Matter so it can adjust your lights and lock your doors with supported devices. Chromecast will be built into the Pixel Tablet too.
A fingerprint sensor on the Pixel Tablet will allow you to unlock the tablet in a matter of seconds.
A first of its kind charging speaker dock will prop up the Pixel Tablet so it can be on display on your home.
Google says it has optimised the cameras for video calls. Google says AI tools such as Magic Eraser makes the Pixel Tablet a fantastic option for photo editing.
Google has now announced the Pixel Tablet, with an 11-inch screen and powered by a Google Tensor G2 chip.
The Google Pixel 7a is available to buy today from $499. It will come bundled with Pixel A-Series buds.
The Pixel 7a is powered by the G2 Tensor chip, and is paired with 8GB of RAM
The Google Pixel 7a has been announced!
Magic Editor and generative AI wallpapers will soon be available on Pixel phones. It sounds like we're on the verge of a new Pixel phone announcement...
Google has also reminded us all how AI can help improve our photos when using a Pixel phone. It's hard to disagree that Pixel phones are among the best at photography.
Google says Pixel is the only phone with AI at its centre, due to the Tensor chip. A very bold claim!
Google has confirmed it's now moving over to the Pixel hardware. This is not a drill!
By using prompts, you can also ask Android to create AI generated wallpapers for your device. These features will be coming to Android this fall.
A new Cinematic wallpaper option for Android will allow you to add photos as your homescreen wallpaper, and then add dynamic effects. 3D motion effects make it look like a static photo is moving as your move your phone around. These features are coming first to Pixel devices next month.
Google is now talking about personalisation options for Android lockscreens. Emoji wallpaper will allow Android users to add emoticons to your homescreen, and then pick various different patterns and colours.
Seems like Google just did a cheeky dig at Apple regarding RCS compatibility...
Google is introducing Unkown Tracker Alerts on Android phones. This will help to prevent potential stalkers planting tracking devices to monitor your movement.
A WhatsApp app is coming to WearOS, allowing you to use the messaging app via your smartwatch. Huzzah!
Google says it's working with apps such as Minecraft and Disney Plus to help optimise the experience for Android-powered tablets. He also seemed to hint at an imminent tablet announcement...
Okay, now it's time to talk about Android. We're likely to find out some new features for Android 14 here. Again, there's likely to be a focus on AI.
We also have an explainer for Google's newly announced Magic Editor. Check out this guide to learn more about the feature that will make it easier than ever to edit your photos.
Intrigued by Google Bard and want to find out more? Then check out our Google Bard guide, where we've explained what it is and how it can be useful in the future.
Google is now discussing how generative AI can help B2B audiences, while also highlighting that it should take on a responsible approach to AI. Google says that it's aware that misinformation could be an issue. To tackle this, Google will be adding tags to the likes of images to see where they have originated from.
AI has been a major focus for Google so far. It's helping to improve various services from Google Search to Google Workspace. It's also been fascinating to see how Bard can integrate with other apps such as Google Maps and Adobe Firefly. This is an impressive response to Microsoft's recent success with ChatGPT.
For those who were waiting for news on Google Pixel hardware, don't worry! It's still likely to turn up at this event within the next hour. For now, Google is talking about Google Cloud.
The team at Trusted Reviews HQ aren't too convinced by these new generative AI features for Google Search. Would you be happy reading an AI generated response, or would you prefer to read an article written by a human? This is likely to evolve into a greater debate in the coming months and years.
Google is now demonstrating how Search will be able to answer questions via AI. You won't need to click on any search results in order to find all of the answers to your questions.
When asking for buying advice through Google Search, Google will be able to provide recommendations via Google Shopping. It will even use AI to generate additional important information you need to consider for your purchase.
Google Search will soon provide an AI-generated response to your search prompts, which will be positioned above your search results. Google says this should make search both smarter and simpler.
Next up, Google is going to talk about how AI can improve its Search Engine.
Sidekick works with Gmail too. It will be able to automatically summarise your email thread, so you can quickly remember what you've previously discussed.
Google is now showing off Sidekick. This feature will analyse your text in Google Docs in real time, offering suggestions for your writing. It will even recommend AI generated images to add to your text.
Duet AI for Workspace will provide access to all of these new AI features for Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Presentations. Google hasn't confirmed an official release date just yet.
Attention spreadsheet fans! Google Sheets will also be treated to an AI upgrade. It will be able to create a table of data from your prompts, removing the need of having to remember all of the various shortcuts.
Now Google is focusing on improvements for Google Workspace thanks to integration with AI. Google Docs will be capable of writing an entire job description, just from a seven-word prompt.
Google Bard is being opened up to 180 countires and territories. Starting today, Bard will also be available in Japanese and Korean, as well as English. Google says it's on track to support 40 languages soon.
Google Bard will be able to work alongside many different Google apps. In fact, Google confirms it will offer compatibility with third-party services such as Adobe Firefly too. Google showed an example of AI generated unicorn with a Birthday cake.
Google Bard will offer integration with Google Maps too. When asked the location of local colleges, Bard will be able to display an image of a map with citations.
In the next few weeks, Bard will become more visual by being capable of bringing up images as well as text. You'll even be able to send Bard an image as a prompt, working in a similar fashion to Google Lens. When prompted, Google Bard will be able to create relevant captions for images.
Dark theme on Google Bard has been confirmed! That got the biggest whoop from the audience yet.
Google is making code citations more precise, now linking to the source to provide more context. Google is now showing an example of Bard working with Python.
Now Google has turned its attention to Bard, and has confirmed it will be running on the newly announced PaLM 2. Google says this should offer a huge leap forwards, allowing Bard to debug code.
PaLM 2 is now available in preview.
Google has announced PaLM 2, which is a new language model developed by Google AI. Over 100 languages are supported. Google demonstrated how PaLM 2 is able to provide feedback and offer corrections for your code.
Google Photos is also getting an AI upgrade. A new feature called Magic Editor will allow you to remove any object you fancy in a picture. You'll also be able to move a person around in a photo by simplying clicking and pressing. You can even alter the apperance of the sky and improve the lighting, making it easier than ever to edit and improve your photos.
Now it's Google Map's turn to get an AI upgrade. With 'Immersive View for Routes' you'll be able to get a virtual bird's eye view of a trip to your destination. It will launch in 15 cities by the end of the year, including New York and London.
Google has began the keynote by talking about generative AI. Gmail is the first get an upgrade, with a new feature called 'Help Me Write' helping to create a full email draft for you via artificial intelligence.
Here we go! The Google I/O 2023 event has kicked off. Keep your eyes on this live blog for all of the latest information.
Those of you with an Android phone should stay tuned too. We're expecting Google to release more information about Android 14, as well as what features you can expect throughout 2023.
Now we're less than an hour away until Google's annual event. So if you've been desperate to find out more details on the Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet and Pixel 7a, make sure to stick around.
Welcome to the Google I/O 2023 live blog! There's now less than two hours until the showcase begins, so make sure to stick around for all of the latest news.