On May 12 at The Android Show, Google announced the Googlebook, a new category of laptops built from the ground up around Gemini Intelligence. This isn’t just another Chromebook with AI features on top — Google says it’s the first laptop designed from the ground up specifically with Gemini in mind to provide personalized and proactive assistance.
On May 12 at The Android Show, Google announced the Googlebook, a new category of laptops built from the ground up around Gemini Intelligence. This isn’t just another Chromebook with AI features on top — Google says it’s the first laptop designed from the ground up specifically with Gemini in mind to provide personalized and proactive assistance.
Googlebook takes the best of Android and ChromeOS. The operating system is a hybrid of the two platforms: it combines elements of ChromeOS and Android. That’s why Android apps work natively on Googlebook — and this is a fundamental difference from Chromebooks, where everything revolves in the browser.
Externally, the device can be recognized by the company’s rectangular LED backlight on the lid — Glowbar. Something like the Apple logo, only with backlighting.
Googlebook comes with Magic Pointer, a new cursor with Gemini built in. Instead of a regular click, just move the cursor and it comes to life, offering contextual hints based on what you’re pointing at.
Examples from the demo: you specify a date in an email — Gemini offers to create a meeting right away. You select two images — say, your living room and your new sofa — Gemini can visualize them together.
A marketer can highlight two ad layouts in Dropbox and ask Gemini to merge them. Available modes: query, compare, merge.
The Create your Widget feature lets you create custom widgets simply through a text prompt. Gemini can search the web or connect to Gmail and Calendar to put together one personalized dashboard.
An example from Google: you’re planning a family reunion in Berlin — Gemini will automatically pull up flights, hotels, restaurant reservations, and add a countdown in one widget on your desktop.
The Cast my apps feature lets you open any app from your phone on your laptop’s larger screen. Want to order food while you’re at work? Open the delivery app right on your laptop and get back to work. Quick Access lets you view files from your phone right in your laptop’s file manager.
Google is working with Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo to release the first Googlebooks in various formats and sizes. Exact specifications and prices are not yet known. They are expected to be released this fall.
The Googlebook is effectively replacing the Chromebook, although Google doesn’t say so outright. The company has assured that current Chromebooks will be supported according to existing commitments, and many of them will be able to switch to the new platform. The Chromebook appeared 15 years ago and has become a standard in schools and the corporate sector. The Googlebook is an attempt to go premium.
