I’m back at my desk after a wild AI-infused day at Google I/O where, with every breath and step Google took, it made sure we knew that the search giant is embracing AI in ways that Microsoft is not necessarily able to.
The drumbeat of AI excitement was so loud that it almost drowned out the buzz surrounding a bunch of new Pixel products. But don’t worry – our Computing Reviews Editor Michelle Rae Uy and I did our jobs, and brought back all the hands-on details we could, while our US Mobiles Editor Phil Berne whipped up an in-depth review of the budget-friendly Pixel 7a, and the rest of the TechRadar team kept our brilliant live blog ticking over.
It wasn’t entirely Google’s week though. Apple’s WWDC is just weeks away, and there are rumors about new laptops, iOS 17 and, for those taking the long view, the iPhone 15 Ultra. Oh, and, naturally, Elon Musk shoved Twitter back into the spotlight with more wild (and possibly worrisome) features, and the promise of a new CEO. Did I mention this was a very busy week? Let’s get to the best of it…
Lance Ulanoff, US Editor in Chief
The week in Google
Google I/O 2023 was packed with news (Getty Images)
Two new Pixel phones! A new Pixel tablet! About a billion new adventures in AI! Google's I/O keynote was everything we hoped for and more. You can catch up with everything that was announced by clicking through to our Google I/O liveblog, or click the links below for reviews and analysis of the top products that were unveiled.
Matt Hanson, TechRadar's Managing Editor for Core Tech, is not a fan of larger laptops – but with rumors growing that Apple will unveil a 15-inch MacBook Air at WWDC, he explains why he's looking forward to being persuaded that bigger is better.
Disney has announced that it's going to merge its Disney Plus and Hulu streaming services in the US before the end of the year, the better to take on the likes of Netflix. We've got all the details on the plans, and how it's going to affect your subscriptions.
Life hasn't exactly been dull since Elon Musk took over Twitter, but now, after floating the prospect previously, he's announced that he's finally stepping down as CEO. Our Computing Editor Christian Guyton has thoughts about what Musk is really up to.