In the WBC 2025, Apple wrapped the iOS 26 and its exact new AI features. If you have seen the keynote with one eye what Google Pixel is doing with phones and Gemini, you probably had the same reaction I did: “Wait … Have I not seen before?”
Let’s take a quick look:
- Direct Voicemail – Google Pixel’s “Call Screening”
When you are calling from an unknown number, the AI assistant will choose for you and ask the person to call the person. Their answer has been released in real time, a text that appears on the screen. Therefore, you can decide whether to answer or not. Pixel’s call screening was introduced in 2018 with Pixel 3.
- Personal Voice Assistant to Calls – Pixel’s “Hold for Me”
When you are called a support line that stops you, you can put your phone down. AI will identify when a real person responds to your call and inform you through Ring Tone. The first time was introduced in Pixel 5 in 202, as “Hold for me”.
- Visual Search – Launched with Samsung and Google phones as “Circle To Search”
Takes the screenshot of the screen and you can tap or circle the About items to perform the image search (for example, to find a product you really like in a video, or find details via event poster). Introduced in the early 2024, first with the Galaxy S24 series, then Pixel 8 phones.
As it says on tin, direct translation will translate within a call between different languages. Both sides will hear the translator’s voice, so they know what is being said, when the punishment is over, when the answer is expected.
First Samsung introduced in 2024 Galaxy S24 The series, then announced on I/O 2025 by Google. Exactly honestly, Tech is still a bit complicated and is not there at all – I’m interested in seeing whether Apple manages to add some Polish to it.
So… Is Apple just playing catchup here?
Thank you, a turn – it’s all about how it works
Where Apple is bent is privacy and on -device processing. The pitch is obvious: Most of these AI features will run locally on your iPhone (assuming that you’ve got A17 Pro or New Chip), when needed off -device work, is powered by Apple’s so -called “private cloud compute”.
So what’s the difference?
Apple’s private cloud computers only send data to servers when needed, and nevertheless, servers do not maintain any personal information. Apple also promised open verification – meaning, in theory, security researchers will be able to audit how the system works.
Google’s Gemini/Assistant is primarily cloud -based. The reason for this is that Google wants to bring most of its AI features to Android, which means it can’t just rely on hardware. We all know how many Android phones have flavors. Some work goes locally, but with full features, Gemini’s data, your data often goes to Google servers. Yes, Google has promised strong privacy reservations, but historically it is a hungry model of a more data (because it’s Google’s business model).
The same, but different
At the end of the day, though – from a user experience point of view – Apple is now sending the same features that Pixel owners have enjoyed for years. If you are a dye hard iPhone user, it is great to get these tools. If you’ve been on a pixel, you’re probably thinking: “Apple, welcome to 2023.” I I am glad we are all getting cool things.
As mentioned above, Apple’s major benefit is integration. These AI features are coming in all the iPhones that support iOS 26 (With some limits on old chips), so you will feel a certain level of polish across the ecosystem, while Android has an unexpected capacity that is linked to several manufacturers with its spin on hardware.
So… Should Google be upset?
Not at all. If anything, I think it became clear (as if it was not already) when it comes to useful smartphone tools and implementation, Google is ahead in the AI game.
But it indicates the beginning of a new phase: Apple has gone back to the tasks that others have already done, but the apple is at the top with a separate brightness. If history teaches us anything, it is that Capartino can use this solid base as a launching pad so that something can be really unique and played. The least, the competition is hot. Very, very fast.
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