On Monday, Google introduced the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14, the corporate’s newest AI-focused Chromebook machine. This explicit Chromebook comes with a MediaTek Kompanio Extremely processor, an NPU with as much as 50 TOPS (Trillions of Operations Per Second), and a battery lifetime of as much as 17 hours.
However the announcement is not nearly Google’s newest Chromebook Plus machine: The corporate can be rolling out new AI options for all of its Chromebook Plus gadgets. There are two new options right here unique to the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 (and run completely on-device), and a further 4 that may work in your current Chromebook Plus machine.
Sensible grouping (Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 solely)

Credit score: Google
Google’s newest Chromebook can set up each open tabs and paperwork into “logical teams” based mostly on what you are presently doing in your Chromebook. In idea, the characteristic ought to assist kind your varied home windows into organized sections, in order that the suitable tabs and docs are the place they need to be. In follow, although, I can think about this being a little bit of a catastrophe. What if the AI would not totally perceive my workflow, and decides that tabs which might be related to my work aren’t really related? I might fairly thumb by my very own mess of tabs than attempt to decode the AI’s interpretation of my work.
AI picture modifying in Gallery (Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 solely)
Google says the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 may also edit photos straight within the Gallery app utilizing AI. Whereas it might contain a number of modifying options, the corporate highlights two examples: eradicating backgrounds with AI, and producing stickers from photos. (I might argue that second instance would not actually depend as picture modifying, however I digress.)
Choose to go looking with Lens
Google is bringing its “Circle to Search” characteristic to Chromebooks. The corporate is looking it “Choose to go looking with Lens,” permitting you to spotlight a piece of your display to start out an AI-generated net search. For instance, if somebody sends you an image of sneakers, and also you need to know the place you should buy them, you may long-press the launcher, spotlight the picture of the sneaker, and let go, and a brand new net search will seem in a pop-up.
Textual content seize

Credit score: Google
“Textual content seize” is what Google is looking Optical Character Recognition (OCR), or a program’s skill to know textual content in a picture and replica and paste it some other place. Once you spotlight a picture that incorporates textual content, you will see these OCR choices seem, and whilst you can click on the “copy” button to stick the textual content elsewhere, you might also produce other choices. For those who spotlight an invitation, for instance, you might even see an choice so as to add the small print to a brand new calendar entry.
What do you assume to date?
Shortly generate photos with AI
Google has a brand new “Fast Insert” key for including photos, photographs, or emojis to paperwork with out having to depart the app first. Whereas you should use current photos and emojis right here, the hook is the power to generate photos with AI, and insert them straight into the doc.
“Assist me learn” simplifies textual content

Credit score: Google
Google’s current “Assist me learn” characteristic is getting a brand new characteristic. Along with summarizing an internet web page or answering questions on a doc, “Assist me learn” can now simplify textual content as nicely. In accordance with Google, the characteristic “takes complicated language and makes it extra comprehensible, turning dense textual content into a better learn.”
That actually may very well be useful, however I can not assist however marvel if we actually need AI dumbing down all the things we expertise on our gadgets. For those who’re operating late and want the Sparknotes model of no matter you are studying? Certain. For those who really need to know a subject that is nicely past your experience? Okay. However I fear that this “Simplify” might get overused, to the purpose the place we need not assume by complicated subjects anymore.