Google I/O: Hands-on With Project Astra, the AI Assistant of the Future

At Google I/O 2024, the spotlight was on Project Astra, a multimodal AI assistant designed to interact semi-conversationally and identify objects and people using the camera. Demonstrations included various interactive modes, such as Storyteller and Pictionary, showcasing its potential to assist and entertain users in real-world scenarios.

During a hands-on demo with the Pixel 8 Pro, Project Astra successfully identified objects and actions, suggesting its utility as an accessibility tool. However, its full capabilities and potential to replace Google Assistant remain unclear, raising questions about the future interaction dynamics with Android devices.