Phones might not be as exciting as they used to be, but consumers are in a good place, with most brands refining the fine details with improvements to the hardware and software experience.
Over the past few years, AI has become more of a focus point, with plenty of brands looking to get their tools in front of more people. Google is no exception, and we’ve seen the company shove many AI features, including Gemini, into the majority of its apps and services.
So what’s next?
Well, apparently, Google wants your Android device to predict what you’re going to do, so that it can have it ready when you need it. This report comes from the folks at Android Authority, who have uncovered a new feature in the works called Contextual Suggestions.
So what can Contextual Suggestions do?
Well, as mentioned before, Android will aim to have things ready to go when it thinks you’ll need them. So, for example, if you’re heading to your car, it’ll bring up your music playlist, and maybe even Google Maps too. Sounds pretty good, right?
Google offers some other examples, like your favorite playlist loading when you arrive at the gym, or your device automatically casting content to your TV at a certain time and location. For the most part, this should be pretty interesting.
I mean, 9 times out of 10, when I’m headed out the door, I load up YouTube Music and pop my earbuds on. So, having this happen automatically could save time and energy. Naturally, you will need to give the phone more control, which might not be an option for some.
Android Authority notes that within the settings, it shows that Contextual Suggestions are processed locally by the device and that the data is encrypted. Furthermore, data from the feature is deleted every 60 days, or you can manually delete it yourself.
If that wasn’t enough to change your mind, you will have the option of turning the feature off completely. So far, it’s just available in beta, showing up with Google Play Services version 25.49.32. If you’re curious, and running the beta, you can head into the ‘All services’ section, then head into the ‘Others’ section to access it.
Is this really the future?
Now, if this all sounds a touch familiar, Google tried something like this with its Pixel 10 series phones when it introduced Magic Cue. And while it sounded like a fantastic idea, in reality, it turned out to be a bit of a hit-and-miss. It’ll be interesting to see how Contextual Suggestions differ.
