Google is shaking things up in the Chromebook world with the launch of two new devices and a massive AI upgrade for its entire ecosystem. The spotlight is on the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus, a sleek and powerful machine boasting an 8GB RAM, Intel Core i3 processor, and a vibrant 15.6-inch OLED display. It’s not just about the hardware, though. The Galaxy Chromebook Plus is the first to feature Google’s new ‘Quick Insert’ key, which seamlessly integrates Gemini AI into your workflow. This key, located between the tab and shift keys, brings up a menu filled with handy shortcuts for tasks like creating summaries, finding emojis and GIFs, searching your Google Drive, and performing simple calculations.
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 is also making its debut, offering a tablet-first experience with a 10.95-inch WUXGA touchscreen display and a kickstand for comfortable viewing. This Chromebook is designed for students and features palm rejection technology for smooth sketching, although the USI Pen 2 stylus is sold separately. Powering the Duet 11 is a MediaTek Kompanio 838 processor with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Google has also partnered with Goodnotes to optimize its app for stylus-compatible Chromebooks, making it a compelling option for note-taking enthusiasts.
Beyond the new hardware, Google is introducing a wave of AI-powered features for all Chromebooks, bringing them closer to the cutting-edge of technology. One of the most notable additions is ‘Help Me Read,’ an AI-powered summarizer that can quickly break down complex text, identify key dates and details, and answer questions about the content you’re reading. This powerful tool works with any text on your screen and is just a right-click away.
Another exciting addition is ‘Live Translate,’ which brings real-time caption translation to your videos, across platforms like YouTube and Twitch. With support for over 100 languages, it opens up a world of content and communication.
For regular Chromebook users, Google is bringing a suite of AI-driven features like ‘Chat with Gemini,’ ‘Welcome Recap,’ ‘Focus,’ and ‘Pin.’ ‘Welcome Recap’ provides a handy overview of what you were working on last time you used your Chromebook, while ‘Focus’ automatically activates Do Not Disturb mode during specified time frames or when you’re enjoying your favorite music. The ‘Pin’ feature lets you pin important files to your home screen for easy access.
These updates are rolling out across all Chromebooks throughout October, and Google is offering a generous free trial of Google One AI Premium for new Chromebook users, providing 2TB of Google Drive storage and access to Gemini Advanced. For those purchasing the new Chromebook Plus devices, Google is offering a whole year of Google One AI Premium for free.
Google’s latest Chromebook updates are a testament to its commitment to delivering a seamless and intelligent user experience. With the new devices, AI-powered features, and generous free trials, Google is making the Chromebook ecosystem more accessible and powerful than ever before.
