Soniya Jobanputra interview: Pixel is most helpful version of a smartphone offering best of Google

Anuj Bhatia: How does Google assess AI-powered features like Magic Editor, Add Me, or Pixel Screenshots? Do you wait for the AI model to mature and then design a feature around it, or is the development of AI features done in parallel?

Soniya Jobanputra: It’s an evolving space, and the capabilities are also advancing. We don’t know what kind of models, sizes, or quality we will be able to fit on any given device. Therefore, multiple things are happening in parallel. The teams set a level of quality for the experience at the very beginning. As you move through the development progress, they test it against different available models. The advantage is that we are Google. Not only do we have edge capabilities on the device with Tensor and TPU, but we also have extensive cloud capabilities, ranging from our smaller models all the way up to our advanced Gemini models. So if the quality bar is not hitting where we want it to be, we will take advantage of those other models to get it to where it needs to be and make sure that we deliver the best features possible.

Google is heavily emphasising new AI capabilities powered by a large language model installed on the Pixel 9 smartphone lineup. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

Anuj Bhatia: The hardware matures with every generation; each new smartphone is better and more powerful than the previous model. Does software mature in the same way as hardware?

Soniya Jobanputra: I definitely think this applies to software. When we think about hardware, we’ve considered a three-year or five-year cadence — deciding how we want to see our camera modules and displays progress over time. What’s great is that we have our Pixel software team, and we can do that on the software side as well. There are times when you can’t deliver every aspect of what you want from a software perspective, which is why we focus on developing a minimum viable product and building that roadmap of where this will go. A great example is the evolution of our camera features. We started with Night Sight, which offered a certain set of capabilities, and over time it expanded to include video features and now video boost. You can already see the progression of software within our portfolio.

Anuj Bhatia: On one hand, Google sells its Pixel phones, and on the other hand, it works with OEMs like Samsung, who are also bringing AI features to their devices. How does Google ensure that Pixel phones stand out within the Android ecosystem?

Soniya Jobanputra: As Google, our first priority is to help as many people as possible, and that comes through Android. We ensure that Android is solid for our partners and the entire ecosystem of users. For Pixel, our focus is on making our hardware and software experience stand out. When we think about Pixel, it’s not just about just building a smartphone that runs Android; it’s about creating the most helpful version of a smartphone that offers the best of Google across the board — from the most advanced Gemini models to the best app experiences. That’s how we aim to make our devices stand out through these helpful experiences, such as Best Take, Add Me, and our new Pixel Weather app, all designed to make your everyday life a little easier and better.

The software and new AI experiences are seen as Pixel’s secret trump card against the iPhone. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

Anuj Bhatia: As consumers hold on to their smartphones longer and seek solid reasons to upgrade, companies like Google are banking on new AI features to drive upgrades. What is your view on this: is it a short-lived trend that may soon pass, or will AI change the smartphone landscape for good?

Soniya Jobanputra: First and foremost, AI is a tool. For the longest time, we wanted to deliver an assistant experience that was like having a true human assistant — someone who helps you get through the day. However, we were limited by artificial constraints and the machine learning algorithms that existed back then. As excited as we were about Google Assistant at the time, now with Gemini, we have a tool that enables us to deliver assistant capabilities we could never have delivered in the past. The power of AI lies not in its ability to sell more devices but in its capacity to push boundaries, be more helpful, and enable users to be the best version of themselves. That’s what helps us build truly helpful experiences.

Anuj Bhatia: With Google now bringing its entire Pixel phone portfolio to India alongside its foldable smartphone, is India finally ready for Pixel devices?

Soniya Jobanputra: India is an important market on the global stage. It’s large, growing, and advancing. For all these reasons, we want to be part of that growth. That’s why we’re committed to manufacturing here, bringing our entire portfolio, and offering all the capabilities we have.