Google is launching Googlebooks, a new laptop category built alongside Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo. The devices sit somewhere between Android and Chrome OS, with Gemini AI baked into the operating system rather than bolted on as an afterthought.
Announced alongside Gemini Intelligence today at its The Android Show, Google says Googlebooks are built around its next-generation on-device AI, pulling in apps directly from Google Play.
Check out the video below:
Advanced AI Controls
The most interesting software addition is the Magic Pointer, a cursor that reads what’s on your screen and suggests actions based on context. Hover over a date in an email and it offers to book a meeting. Click on a product image and it pulls up pricing or similar items. It’s a small change that could quietly become one of those features you can’t imagine living without.
The Create My Widget tool, which is also coming to Android, lets users build custom desktop widgets by describing what they want in plain language. A travel dashboard that pulls in flight times, trip details, and local weather into one view, for example, or anything else you can think to ask for.
Cross-Device Integration
A feature called Cast My Apps lets you pull an app from your Android phone and use it on the laptop screen without downloading or installing anything. The file browser is getting a similar treatment, letting you search for photos or documents sitting on your phone as if they were already on the computer.
Hardware and Legacy Support
Every Googlebook will come with a glowbar, a light strip that acts as a visual signature for the new lineup. Exact specs will depend on the manufacturer.
Google hasn’t shared hardware details yet but says the first devices will be revealed later this year. Existing Chromebooks will keep getting support for the remainder of their normal lifespan.
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