Chromebooks Get a Brain Boost: New AI Features Arrive

Google is finally giving Chromebooks some love with a bunch of new AI features. These updates are rolling out to more powerful Chromebooks, like the Chromebook Plus models. These devices need a modern CPU and at least 8GB of RAM to handle the new AI tools. One of the coolest new features is an upgraded version of Lens. You can now long-press the launcher icon to select any part of the screen for a visual search. Lens also lets you capture text and integrate it with Google Calendar and Docs. It's like having a smart assistant right in your Chromebook. Gemini models are also part of the fun. The Quick Insert key, which already lets you add photos and emojis, now has a new trick. It can generate new images on demand using AI. This is a big deal because it means you can create visuals without leaving your Chromebook. But wait, there's more! The Help Me Read feature uses Gemini to summarize long documents and webpages. It can now make complex text easier to understand in just a few clicks. This is great for students or anyone who needs to digest a lot of information quickly. Google is also offering a 12-month free trial of the Google AI Pro plan for Chromebook Plus users. This plan includes 2TB of cloud storage, access to Gemini Pro, and NotebookLM Pro. NotebookLM is also getting a spot in the Chrome OS shelf, making it easier to access. All these features are running in the cloud, but they're only available on the more powerful Chromebooks. This means if you have an older or less powerful Chromebook, you might miss out on some of these cool updates.