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الثلاثاء، 3 أكتوبر 2023

AI Deepfake Ads: Tom Hanks, Gayle King Sound Warning

Tom Hanks is pretty recognizable, whether he’s holding a box of chocolates in Forrest Gump or wearing a space suit in Apollo 13. But should you see a dental insurance ad with his picture, look twice. It’s not really the Oscar-winning actor.

“Beware!” Hanks wrote on Instagram this weekend. “There’s a video out there promoting some dental plan with an AI version of me. I have nothing to do with it.”

Hanks shared an image, which The New York Times reports to be an apparent screenshot from the ad, though he declined to answer the newspaper’s questions about what company ran the ad or whether he is planning legal action. The Times reported being unable to find the ad online.

Hanks isn’t the only celebrity complaining about doctored footage of themselves being used in ads. CBS Mornings host Gayle King made a similar post on Instagram on Monday.

“People keep sending me this video and asking about this product and I have NOTHING to do with this company,” King wrote. “I posted this video promoting my radio show on August 31 (swipe to see the original), and they’ve manipulated my voice and video to make it seem like I’m promoting it … I’ve never heard of this product or used it! Please don’t be fooled by these AI videos.”

The stars’ faked images don’t seem to be helping make unknown brands famous, however. The King video is paired with an apparent company name, Artipet. But the Times reports that, as with the Hanks video, reporters couldn’t figure out what product was being promoted or what company was involved.

King’s fans seemed thankful that the host pointed out the footage.

“I knew it was fake the second I saw it yesterday,” one Instagram commenter wrote. “So frustrating! People fall for these scams all the time. Ugh! Thanks for pointing it out to everyone!”

How to protect yourself from celebrity deepfakes

Both the Hanks and King posts appear to reference “deepfakes,” images or videos that use artificial intelligence to make it look as if a person is doing or saying things he or she actually isn’t. As CNET noted in this article, the technology entered the mainstream in 2019 and since has evolved and improved.

The European Union has strengthened its rules around how tech companies must deal with deepfakes with a revised Code of Practice on Disinformation, and in March, video-sharing app TikTok required that synthetic or manipulated media depicting realistic scenes must be clearly labeled as fake. TikTok’s changes continue to allow synthetic media featuring public figures under some circumstances, though abuse, political misinformation and commercial endorsements are now prohibited there.

To avoid being fooled, there are practical things you can do when trying to determine whether something is generated by AI. Look for odd phrasing and facial movements, research if the source is reputable and Google the content to see if others are questioning its validity.

Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to help create some stories. For more, see this post.

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The New Whoop AI Fitness Coach Created a Workout Just for Me

Whoop is a long-standing health and fitness company that makes one of the most in-depth fitness wearables you can buy. Favored by athletes and celebrity endorsers like LeBron James and Michael Phelps, Whoop has dropped a new feature that may make it more appealing to the average person: an AI fitness coach.

According to Whoop, it’s the first fitness wearable with an AI coach available to interpret your data, help you plan workouts and reach your goals. Whoop Coach is intended to revolutionize on-demand personalized advice and recommendations.

I got to test Whoop and its new AI coach, which is still in beta. While this feature may not make the high yearly subscription cost worth it for everyone, it’s cool if you want advice tailored to your wellness journey.

What is the Whoop band?

When I first started wearing my Whoop, I was surprised to see no screen or buttons. Everything is done within the app. I got another surprise when I logged into the app. Whoop doesn’t track the typical factors that other wearable devices do. You won’t get any insights into your steps, stairs or active minutes.

Whoop

It measures only strain, sleep and recovery with the help of five LEDs, a body temperature sensor and four photodiodes. Despite being limited to these three metrics, it measures them well, presenting them in charts and graphs that help demonstrate how they interact with each other.

Things I liked about the Whoop 4 band:

Personalized data based on your sleep, strain and recovery.The app is easy to use, with tabs for each metric. The charger slides onto the band, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to put it back on after it’s charged. Whoop says you should get about five days off one charge. I found that to be true. Lifetime warranty as long as you bought it from Whoop and have an active membership.

Things I didn’t like:

The optional alarm that vibrates the band to wake you up was effective, though the double tap that’s supposed to turn it off didn’t always work. Most mornings, I had to hit it several times to get it to stop. The charger was difficult to slide onto the band the first few times. Switching bands was a frustrating experience because the way Whoop hinges is not intuitive. The band is waterproof, though because it is so wide, it took at least two hours to dry. The Whoop membership is steep, with no monthly payment option. An annual membership costs $239 upfront and $399 for 24 months.

Whoop also sells clothing — sports bras, underwear, tops and bottoms — that the tracker slips into. So you’re not limited to just wearing it on your wrist. I like this versatility because wearing my Fitbit on one wrist and Whoop on the other felt intrusive sometimes. And though the Whoop 4 is 33% smaller than the previous generation, it’s still a little larger than I like for my wrist. It felt like a backpack buckle around my wrist. However, I would happily slip it into a pair of leggings to still get the data that Whoop offers.

Introducing Whoop Coach

Whoop Coach gives me some alternatives to those awful push-ups.

Whoop

Whoop just launched the introduction of Whoop Coach into the app. It’s powered by GPT4, the advanced generative AI system from OpenAI. Two coaching options are available: Customized with your data, and Education and Support only. Whoop recommends using the customized option, which is meant to offer you on-demand fitness and wellness advice and recommendations, all based on the data that Whoop collects. Education and support will only yield generic coaching recommendations.

So, instead of looking up a general workout, Whoop Coach can create one based on your strain, recovery and sleep from the previous days. Not only does this help make sure you don’t push your body too hard, but it also allows you to swap out movements that don’t make sense for your body. For example, I don’t enjoy integrating push-ups into my workouts. Whoop Coach recommended alternatives like planks and dumbbell bench presses to target the same muscle groups.

What it was like talking to Whoop Coach

I expected the Whoop Coach to be more prominent than it is in the app. Instead of taking away from the data on the overview page, the little black bar for Whoop Coach is located under the strain, recovery and sleep diagram.

I spent a lot of time interacting with the AI coach, asking general questions on sleep, fitness and recovery. The more I used it, the more specific I got about my performance. In general, the advice and recommendations that Whoop Coach gave were solid. In reference to the sleep advice, it was in line with the basics of what I recommend to readers to sleep better at night.

The interface is similar to any chat feature out there, though a few features stood out to me.

Chat threads

Many messaging platforms require you to scroll back through the various messages they’ve exchanged if they would like to reference past interactions. Better options have a search bar that cuts out the scrolling. Whoop Coach doesn’t have a search bar, though it offers a unique chat organization feature: multiple threads.

Whoop

Next to the chat bar, there is a plus icon. This allows you to have several different conversations with the AI Coach; no more scrolling or searching after you’ve changed the subject numerous times. I used this feature to help organize what topics I was learning about. The sleep thread only talks about sleep; the fitness chat only contains strain and exercise content.

In the top right corner of the chat, there is an icon that looks like two word bubbles. This brings up your chat history, where you can navigate between threads.

Topic suggestions

Whoop is one of the most robust wearable devices out there. It gives you a ton of information, though it’s not what you expect. Whoop doesn’t measure steps, active minutes or how many stairs you’ve climbed. That means to use Whoop, there’s a bit of a learning curve with understanding what strain, sleep and recovery are measuring and what it means for you.

Whoop Coach is a great way to solve this pain point. You can ask the AI chat anything, though there are suggested prompts if you don’t know where to start. So if you start from scratch with Whoop, you have a built-in coach that will walk you through everything you need.

Personalization

At the most basic level, Whoop Coach is an excellent tool for education and helping you understand how to use the app. It’s sort of like a hypercharged walk-through of the app.

That said, the more you put into it, the more personalized your responses will be. It’s best to wear the band as much as possible and fill out the “journal” daily. To get the most out of the Whoop Coach, you have to interact with it.

I asked the Whoop Coach, “Have I been sleeping OK?” In response, it provided me with a snapshot of my recent sleep activity, including how long I spent in the slow wave and REM sleep. This offers a different understanding of information and allows the AI coach to provide actionable tips to improve performance.

Whoop Coach privacy

Whoop Coach’s privacy disclosure is clear and concise. Whoop’s large language model partner has a “Zero-Retention/Zero Training Policy” for the anonymized Whoop data. This policy means that your data will not be kept or stored, nor will it be used to train any LLM algorithms or technology.

Privacy isn’t my only concern when it comes to interacting with AI for health information, especially after a recent study found that AI tools have the potential to generate harmful content that may trigger eating disorders.

Whoop has the best intentions: helping you achieve goals and improve your health during your fitness journey. All of the responses from Whoop were educational and in line with the advice I give readers. When I asked how to lose weight fast, I received a response that encouraged me to focus on losing weight in a healthy and sustainable way, like drinking water and focusing on overall health, not just the number on the scale. It also included a sentence about consulting a health care professional before you start a weight loss journey.

I didn’t have any questionable responses from Whoop. The hyperfocus on personalization based on data likely helps keep the responses away from general or harmful answers that may unintentionally trigger people.

Final verdict: Is Whoop Coach worth it?

The Whoop Coach is in beta, and you should expect more functions and enhancements to the tool in the coming months. However, I was impressed with Whoop Coach. It was a helpful feature that allowed me to quickly understand Whoop’s key metrics and how they can help me improve my performance.

I liked Whoop Coach, though I’m not sure this feature makes it more widely appealing to ordinary people. With the prices where they are ($239 upfront for an annual membership and $399 upfront for two years) and the lack of a monthly payment option, I just don’t see Whoop being something the average person would want to invest in, even with Whoop Coach.

It’s still best reserved for athletes or someone who is serious about fitness training. Still, the Whoop Coach is a great addition to the app.

Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to help create some stories. For more, see this post.

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Why Your Eyes Are the Window to Your Health

Your eyes do more than take in the world. They reflect your inner world, too.

In fact, our eyes have the ability to reveal things about our health that might otherwise fly under the radar, including blood pressure, whether you have diabetes and if you have a genetic health condition. This makes staying on top of regular eye exams all the more important, as your eye doctor will have a window seat to health issues you may be missing.

Like precious jewels, your eyes are delicate and need to be protected, especially with age, when some changes to vision can be expected. Here’s a closer look at which health conditions the eye can give you a glimpse of, sometimes before you even notice symptoms.

Heart disease

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the eye is the only place a doctor can see blood vessels in “live action” without an invasive procedure. This means that evidence of high blood pressure (which often has no symptoms), high cholesterol, stroke and other health conditions linked to heart health may be first seen by your eye doctor.

The AAO pointed to 2021 research published in The Lancet that found decreased blood flow from heart disease (ischemia) may cause damage to the retina, which can be seen on retinal scans. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the US, and the earlier it’s detected, the better.

If you aren’t already offered a retinal scan as part of your eye exam, ask your doctor for one.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure not only leads to heart problems or heart disease, it can also raise the risk of some conditions of the eye, including glaucoma and macular degeneration, according to the AOA. And it may be visible during an eye exam due to the way it affects blood vessels.

Diabetes

Diabetes is very common (about 1 in 10 Americans have it) and symptoms of it are often seen in the eye. Diabetes can lead to partial vision loss, double the risk of glaucoma, increase the risk of cataracts and lead to diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy is when high blood sugar levels cause blood vessels in the eye to swell, leak or close. As of 2017, diabetic retinopathy was the leading cause of blindness among adults in developed countries, according to the American Diabetes Association. For this reason, people with diabetes are typically recommended retinal scans because of the way it causes damage to the retina.

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy (and signs you should get to your doctor ASAP) include blurred vision, a sudden, large amount of “eye floaters,” blurred or fluctuating vision and dark or empty areas of vision. If you have diabetes, you should be offered a dilated eye exam to look at your retina and check for retinopathy.

FG Trade/Getty Images

High cholesterol

Colored deposits around the cornea of the eye may mean high cholesterol, especially if the person is younger than age 40, according to the AOA. It can also show up in the retina as blood vessel deposits, and yellow bumps around the eye.

If you have these eye symptoms, you should get seen right away, as they typically can lead to more serious health conditions or a stroke.

Autoimmune and genetic conditions

Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune disorders can affect the eye. About 30% of people with lupus will have dry eye, according to the AOA. Many people with MS will develop vision problems, and it may be one of the earlier symptoms of the disease.

People with Parkinsons often have ocular tremors as one of their first symptoms, according to the AARP.

People with sickle cell disease, a blood disorder, may also develop problems in the eye or with their vision, including retinal damage. According to the American Society of Retina Specialists, annual screenings for sickle cell retinopathy are recommended for people who’ve been diagnosed, starting at age 10.

While eye problems may not always be the first symptom of a genetic or autoimmune disorder, catching them early may help decrease the risk of damage to the eye or more serious outcomes.

Vitamin deficiency

According to the World Health Organization, night blindness (not being able to see in low light) is one of the first signs of a vitamin A deficiency. And while there are a ton of reasons for experiencing dry eyes, a vitamin A deficiency can also cause very dry eyes.

Beyond vitamin A, your body needs a well-balanced diet full of vitamins and other nutrients to thrive — including your eyes. Foods rich in zinc, vitamin E and vitamin C may all benefit vision health.

As the Cleveland Clinic notes, vitamin A deficiency is less common in the US, because we tend to get enough of it from our food, but it can affect people with liver disorders or those whose bodies have a hard time absorbing vitamins. If you’re deficient in any vitamin or mineral, you should talk to your doctor about a supplement that makes sense for your needs.

Too much screen time

While you won’t see it on a retinal scan, staring at screens all day won’t do great things for your eyes. There’s not evidence directly linking blue light from screens to eye damage or health, but it has been found to disrupt your sleep and give you symptoms of eye strain, which includes dry eyes, headaches and more.

If you go to the doctor with symptoms of eye strain or tired eyes from looking at a computer all day, they may suggest you take more breaks away from your desk or that you start practicing the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet in the distance for 20 seconds. This will help your eyes shift their focus and give them a breather (and more blinks).

Other health conditions

Viruses and bacterial infections can also show up in the eye, causing conjunctivitis (pink eye). Pink eye can be brought on from a respiratory virus that causes symptoms of a cold, and it can even be brought on by a sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia or gonorrhea.

Sometimes, infections can show up in the cornea. Herpes simplex virus 1, the virus that usually causes cold sores on the mouth, is the most common cause of corneal infections, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Because eye infections can be serious and even cause vision loss in extreme cases, it’s important to go in for treatment, whatever the cause.

It’s possible that an eye doctor may also be able be able to see signs of more urgent, severe health problems including tumors or aneurysm, according to the AOA and Versant Health. Increased pressure near the back of the eye can cause changes to the optic nerve, which may be seen by a doctor, the agency said. If there are subtle signs of something detected behind the eye (there won’t always be), your eye doctor will refer you to another specialist.

Manage your health by managing your eyes

While some health effects that show up in the eye can’t be controlled, like in the case of autoimmune and genetic conditions, you can’t go wrong with simple lifestyle tweaks like eating a generally healthy diet — which also benefits vision — and getting regular physical activity. Maintaining regular activity and eating nutritious foods most days is especially important to control health conditions that can be preventable or managed, like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.

It’s also important to stay on top of your annual eye exams and recommended retinal screenings, if you’re at higher risk of eye damage from a common, chronic health condition like diabetes or high blood pressure. Because your eyes are a part of your body — and a crucial one, at that — pay attention when they show you something about your health.

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الاثنين، 2 أكتوبر 2023

This Giant Satellite Is Causing Astronomical Problems For Scientists: Here’s Why

According to Imperial College London, BlueWalker 3 commands “the largest commercial antenna system ever deployed into low-Earth orbit” at 64 square meters. That’s a worrying precedent for light pollution. While scientists are accustomed to seeing satellites in the course of their observations, the final images need to be digitally altered to remove the resulting streaks. When a chain of satellites — such as Starlink trains — passes by, the task becomes incredibly burdensome, as correcting those images is not easy. BlueWalker 3, with its massive reflection profile, could be dramatically more disruptive.

Technically described as artificial light at night (ALAN), light pollution is not only a source of optical interference by such large satellites but there is also another aspect of radio interference that needs to be addressed simultaneously, according to experts. An exhaustive report by the International Astronomical Union [PDF] highlights the scope of the problem and proposes guidelines for protecting the “science of astronomy” from man-made satellites. Then there’s the cosmic heritage aspect. SpaceX already has the FCC permit to launch 12,000 satellites and plans to launch an additional 30,000 units. Scientists are concerned that these satellites will soon cloud the pristine view for not just them, but the average star-gazer, too.

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Best Gifts for Hikers That Will Really Get Used

$28 at Amazon

OCOOPA Rechargeable Electric Hand Wamer

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There are a ton of options when looking for the best gifts for hikers, but you want to get your loved one something they’ll actually use. Shopping for hiking enthusiasts can be hard, especially if you’re not sure what a hiker really needs. And as much fun as those silly hiking-themed shirts you may see advertised on Facebook are, it’s possible to find something they’ll genuinely love. (Yes, I have received at least one of those shirts.) You don’t need to settle for a gift card, either. We’re here to help.

This story is part of Gift Guide, our year-round collection of the best gift ideas.

The best gifts for hikers are practical items your friend or family member will actually enjoy and use, whether they’re embarking on a 5-mile loop near their home or on a multiday backpacking trip in the national parks. Before we discuss the perfect gift for hikers, let’s talk about what to avoid. You want to skip the cliches and gag gifts that wind up being dead weight, like a random colorful walking stick you found in your local farmer’s market or online. (And yes, that’s also something I’ve been given as a gift.)

As you look for a great gift for the hiker in your life, take into consideration a few of my suggestions, which are based on my experiences hiking over the years. There’s a good chance you’ll find some gear on this list your hiker doesn’t already have — or which could use an upgrade before their next outdoor adventure.

$40 at Amazon

Heat It insect bite dongle

There are about a thousand different ways you can try to repel mosquitoes, but in my experience very few of them are 100% effective and the ones that are shouldn’t live on or near your skin every day. You can’t always control when you’re going to get bit, but there are a couple of things you can do to stop those bites from driving you crazy. One I find particularly interesting is Heat It, and accessory which plugs in to the charging port on your phone and uses and app to create a hot spot you press to the bite to dissolve the chemicals causing itchiness. The app also lets you document number of bites and symptoms, to better help you determine if additional steps should be taken for your health.

Important note — The Android version of this accessory is USB-C, but it does not work with the new iPhone 15 series. An Apple-specific version will be available soon, but currently only iPhone 14 and older are supported.

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Heat It insect bite dongle

$133 at Walmart

Camelbak Ambush

There is nothing more important on any kind of hike than hydration, and for a very long time the gold standard in hydration on a trail or a bike has been the Camelbak. You can store loads of water in a convenient pouch on your back, with a long tube you can clip next to your shoulder for when you need a quick drink.

You can get a lot of different kinds of backpack holsters for Camelbak reservoirs, but the Ambush is my personal favorite for hiking. The durable fabric can survive a fall, you don’t have to fully remove the bladder to refill it and there are several pockets for holding all of your essentials. It’s the perfect backpack for any kind of hike, and makes it easy to leave with just this bag on your back.

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Camelbak Ambush

$13 at Amazon

LightMe Solar LED Bulb

Lights aren’t the most exciting gift in the world, but a solar-friendly light you can hang anywhere is an incredibly useful thing for any camper or hiker if they have the weight for it. If you can charge it while you’re hiking, having a light like this in the evening means never needing to worry about batteries, and that’s a big deal.

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LightMe Solar LED Bulb

$30 at Amazon

Wise Owl Portable Hammock

There are few things better than sitting in a hammock at the side of a lake or the top of a mountain. This portable hammock is lightweight, packs away small, and works in a ton of different environments. It’s a simple gift and comes in a ton of different colors, which is great for making this gift feel like it’s really made for them.

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Wise Owl Portable Hammock

$34 at Amazon

Smartwool Socks

There’s no such thing as too many socks, especially when you’re hiking. Whether it’s a day hike or a full week out on the trail, having the right socks makes a huge difference. Smartwool socks come in a variety of heights, cushion levels and designs. They’re also great for any temperature, because the primary focus is keeping moisture away from your feet and adding pressure in all of the right places to help prevent blisters. Consider buying your hiker a variety of light, medium and highly cushioned hiking socks. The lightest and thinnest (no cushion) also feel great in everyday sneakers, and the wool material has never made me itch.

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Smartwool Socks

$25 at Amazon

Jetboil JetGauge

When it comes to camp stoves, Jetboil is the champion. It works better at higher altitudes without consuming as much fuel, and it’s compact enough to fit in any pack. If you’re doing a hike for more than an afternoon, this is the cook stove every hiker loves. What we don’t love is accidentally running out of fuel in the middle of a trip, and that’s what makes the JetGauge so useful. It weighs the canister and gives a percentage of the remaining fuel for better preparation, and belongs in every hiker’s pack if they’re hiking for multiple days.

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Jetboil JetGauge

$28 at Amazon

OCOOPA Rechargeable Electric Hand Wamer

Ever hike to the top of a mountain only to discover it’s a lot colder up there? Not a fun feeling, especially if you’re unprepared. I’m not a fan of disposable heaters that end up in the trash or a fire pit, so I usually recommend these rechargeable hand warmers. They have multiple temperature settings, can be recharged by a solar panel if needed, and is small and light enough to not really notice it in a day bag.

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OCOOPA Rechargeable Electric Hand Wamer

$150 at Amazon

Spot Gen4 Satellite Messenger

While more and more phones are coming with emergency satellite functionality, not everyone wants to bring their phone on a hike and have to worry about keeping it charged. If the hiker in your life would rather leave their phone in the car but still be able to reach out and let someone know where they are, the Spot Gen4 is a great option. It’s a simple black box you can clip to a belt or toss in a bag and offer satellite location and quick message check-ins at the touch of a button, as well as emergency services should the need arise. While there are monthly service fees associated with Spot, they’re flexible enough that casual hikers would only spend a few dollars a hear for safety when they’re in the wilderness.

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Spot Gen4 Satellite Messenger

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Superfeet insoles

I swear by these. Not every hiking shoe or boot comes with the right arch support for your foot, and even those that do could use a boost. If you’ve got high arches like me or you’re in need of something to provide a little extra heel support, Superfeet insoles mitigate the beating your feet take over hikes of any duration. Every color in the lineup indicates a different kind of support, and once you have trimmed these to fit the right shoe, they can stay there as long as you keep the boot. You can also pull them out and transfer them to any other shoe. Prices vary depending on size and support, but pick the right one and it’ll last years.

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Superfeet insoles

$949 at Amazon

Oru Kayak Inlet

Most kayaks take up a lot of room, and they aren’t all that portable. If you wanted to go to a lake at the top of a hike and get in the water, your average kayak would make that a little rough. The Oru Kayak Inlet is an origami kayak that folds up when you’re not using it. You can wear it like a backpack, making it easier to get to places.

The whole kit weighs 20 pounds and the backpack case can fit other things on it, so you can easily take it on a hike and enjoy the water when you get to your destination.

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Oru Kayak Inlet

The whole kit weighs 20 pounds and the backpack case can fit other things on it, so you can easily take it on a hike and enjoy the water when you get to your destination.

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A Letter From CNET's Editor-In-Chief – CNET

84 Days, our new-and-improved holiday hub, will curate helpful content all season long.

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How to Watch the Pixel 8 Launch and Everything Else at the Made by Google Event

At the Made by Google event this Wednesday, Oct. 4, we expect the company to officially launch the Pixel 8, 8 Pro and Pixel Watch 2. That’s no surprise to Pixel aficionados — Google hasn’t exactly been keeping the new phones and smartwatch under wraps.

In fact, we already know quite a lot of what will be announced — the names of the devices, what they look like and that there are likely some AI features. Who needs rumors, am I right? It feels like Google’s Pixel event on Wednesday will be less like an unveiling and more like a filling in of the blanks.

Here’s everything you can expect at the 2023 Made by Google event and how to watch the Pixel 8 launch live.

How to watch Google’s Pixel event

As has been the case for several years now, Google holds an annual event in October to launch the latest generation of Pixel devices. This year’s Made by Google event is set for Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 10 a.m. ET (7 a.m. PT, 3 p.m. BST, 1 a.m. AEST). It’s being held in New York for invited members of the press and will stream on Google’s YouTube channel. CNET will be at the event in person to cover the reveals of the new phones and wristwatch, along with anything else Google may show off.

The Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro

“Meet the new Pixel phones, featuring the most advanced Pixel cameras yet, and Google AI to help you do more, even faster.”

That’s the tagline on Google’s site for the new Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. The Pixel phone has always embraced AI and machine learning to some extent, but this tease definitely suggests more. And that might be why Google’s bold previews focus mainly on what the new phones look like and avoid showing off what they can actually do.

In a purportedly leaked video on 91mobiles shared by Kamila Wojciechowska, there’s a walk-through showing off new camera features, which are apparently powered by “Google AI controlled by you.” An enhanced video stabilization feature called Video Boost gets showcased, as well as night mode photo processing under very dim lighting, and improved audio isolation for video recording. In what’s perhaps the wildest feature, the video shows a picture of people on a merry-go-round, and then someone swapping out their blurry heads for crisp in-focus versions, on a Pixel 8. If this is Google AI, count me as intrigued.

Aside from AI, the Pixel 8 will follow previous Google phones in being the smaller of the two, and only the Pixel 8 Pro will have a telephoto camera. In Google’s teaser video, the phones are shown off in a carnation pink and a white color. Both Pixels look like they’ve had nearly every right angle smoothed out. The edges appear more rounded, with both phones looking taller and slimmer than their predecessors.

Wojciechowska also shared leaked Pixel 8 and 8 Pro specs on 91mobiles (as did reliable tipster Evan Blass on X). Both phones apparently share the same main 48-megapixel camera but the rest are different. According to the specs, the Pixel 8 has a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera compared with the 50-megapixel one on the 8 Pro, which will include a new macro focus mode. Both have a 10.5-megapixel front-facing camera, but the 8 Pro’s selfie camera also has autofocus instead of the fixed focus on the Pixel 8. The 8 Pro, like recent pro models, has a third rear camera: a telephoto with 5x optical zoom.

In terms of the screens, the Pixel 8 looks to have a 6.2-inch display, which is smaller than the 6.3-inch one on the Pixel 7. The Pixel 8’s screen gets a boosted refresh rate, to 120Hz, up from the Pixel 7’s 90Hz. Both phones are expected to also feature Google’s Tensor G3 chip.

Perhaps the most curious rumor is that the Pixel 8 Pro will have a built-in thermometer. According to another video leak on 91mobiles (in partnership with Wojciechowski), you’ll be able to use the 8 Pro to measure your temperature. The video has been taken offline, but a contactless thermometer could open up more health features. If the leak is accurate, it won’t be the first smartphone to offer such functionality. The 2020 Honor 4 Play Pro used a sensor to do something similar.

As reported by 9to5Google, the eighth generation of Pixel phones could come with an increased price tag in the US, with the base Pixel 8 going for $699 and the base 8 Pro for $999, a $100 increase for both phones over last year.

The Google Pixel Watch 2

As with the phones, Google released a teaser video for the Pixel Watch 2. The new watch looks nearly identical to last year’s original Pixel Watch, aside from the crown, which appears more svelte.

In a close-up shot of the side, you can see the bottom of the watch, with IP68 listed on it. That would be a substantial upgrade considering the original version lacked any official dust or water resistance.

The Pixel Watch 2, along with the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, will be available to preorder on Oct. 4, according to the fine print in Google’s videos. For everything else, we’ll have to wait for the Made by Google event.

Correction, Oct. 2: An earlier version of this story had the incorrect day of the week for Oct. 4. It’s a Wednesday.

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