Google says the laptops will feature AI tools powered by Gemini and deeper Android integration.
WASHINGTON — Google is preparing to launch a brand new category of AI-powered laptops called “Googlebooks,” in what appears to be the company’s follow up to its Chromebook, which debuted more than 15 years ago.
In a teaser announcement Tuesday, Google said the new devices are designed around its Gemini artificial intelligence platform and will combine elements of Android and ChromeOS into a new laptop experience.
The company described Googlebook as a "new category of laptops built with Gemini’s helpfulness at its core, designed to work seamlessly with the devices in your life and powered by premium hardware.”
Among the new features is “Magic Pointer,” an AI-powered cursor that can offer contextual suggestions based on what users point at on their screens. Google said users could hover over a date in an email to quickly create a calendar event or select two photos, such as a couch and a living room, and visualize them together.
Googlebooks will also support AI-generated widgets that pull information from apps like Gmail and Calendar to create customized dashboards. One example shared by the company included organizing flights, hotel reservations and event countdowns for a family trip.
The laptops are built using Android’s technology and will support Android apps through Google Play, while continuing to use Chrome for web browsing. Google also said users will be able to access files and apps from their Android phones directly on their laptops through a feature called Quick Access.
The company is partnering with major PC manufacturers including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo to release the first Googlebooks later this year. Pricing, specifications or exact release dates are not currently available, though the company said more details will be announced this fall.