Shake the mouse, AI appears... Will Googlebook change everyday computer usage?

▲ Photo: AI-generated image

Looking at a workout schedule and moving dates one by one to a calendar, or emailing photos taken with a smartphone to yourself to download them on a computer, are familiar inconveniences. Google has introduced a laptop called 'Googlebook' that focuses on reducing such processes. Its characteristic feature is that it moves beyond AI running as a separate app, instead integrating it as a function that reads the screen and connects tasks between devices.

On September 21, Google announced the start of Googlebook pre-orders and its key features via its official blog. It is a product line combining Android technology with the desktop foundation of ChromeOS, with Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo participating as initial manufacturers. It targets users who work by switching between smartphones and laptops.

A representative feature is 'Magic Pointer'. By briefly shaking the cursor, you can summon Gemini from the current work screen. Google presented an example of selecting a marathon training plan from a webpage and then requesting to schedule it in Google Calendar. This method aims to reduce the process of copying screen content and pasting it into a chatbot.

The voice input feature 'Rambler' goes a step further than simply transcribing spoken content. According to Google's explanation, it can refine unorganized speech and structure tasks to be executed by item. It also provides a function to create widgets, which are small tools on the desktop, by describing the desired function verbally. Examples include a tool that shows the remaining days until a family trip.

Connectivity with smartphones is also a factor that will determine its utility in daily life. Google explained that users can find and open photos and files from their phones within the Googlebook's Files app. Using 'Cast My Apps', phone apps can be launched in a laptop window and operated. This aims to reduce the effort of separately sending and downloading the same data for each device.

For example, if preparing for a family trip, one can imagine checking photos saved on a phone on a larger screen and organizing verbally recalled preparations into a list. This is an example constructed based on the announced features. The actual number of steps reduced may vary depending on connectivity conditions, the apps used, and the accuracy with which AI understands the content.

Google explained that Magic Pointer operates upon user invocation and is turned off when not in use. However, this explanation should not be interpreted to mean that all AI features are processed only within the device without an internet connection. It is necessary to distinguish between the convenience of features that assist by reading the screen and their data processing methods.

For domestic readers, the release scope is important. The starting price is $899, with store releases scheduled for October 4 in the US, and October 5 in Canada, the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, and Australia. As of September 22, Korea was not included in the list of release countries in the official announcement. The Korean retail price, release schedule, and the specific scope of Rambler's Korean language support are not confirmed by this announcement alone.

The core of the change proposed by Googlebook lies in reducing the effort of re-explaining situations to AI in front of a computer. However, the value of a new device depends less on the number of features and more on how few steps it takes to complete routine tasks. Whether schedules are accurately entered, verbally conveyed information is organized as intended, and existing apps can continue to be utilized will be the criteria for evaluation in real life.