There’s plenty to admire about the Pixel 11 series and, if you have an older Pixel, plenty to envy. But it seems like there’s one less thing, according to something spotted in the Android 17 QPR2 Beta 5.
YouTube channel In Depth Tech Reviews published a video yesterday that showed an option for the Pixel 11 feature Proactive Assistance in the settings menu of a Google Pixel 10 Pro XL.
This is despite, Google’s help page listing Proactive Assistance as an exclusive to the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold.
What is Proactive Assistance?
The Proactive Assistance feature uses Gemini to surface relevant suggestions given the context of what’s occurring on the Pixel’s screen, notifications, and the user’s location.
It can turn a text conversation with a friend about getting together into a booked table for two and a spot on the calendar. Or a reminder to bring an umbrella for rainy conditions later in the day as someone steps out the door into sunny conditions.
Proactive Assistance can be thought of as a more advanced version of Pixel 10’s Magic Cue. It takes a more systemwide approach, reacts to more subtle clues, and extends to accessories like the Pixel Watch.
Similar but not the same
There are a few differences in the Proactive Assistance menu on the Pixel 11 compared to the Pixel 10, starting with how it’s described.
On the Pixel 10, the description for the features says,”Personalized suggestions at the right time.” On the Pixel 11, it says, “Get personalized suggestions from Gemini at the right time.”
In the video, Emad Hussein, who runs In Depth Tech Reviews, shows that the Pixel 10 settings show a “Default digital assistant” option on the Proactive Assistance page, which has something absent from the Pixel 11 version. After Gemini and ChatGPT, it presents an Android Easter Egg option but that did not work when Hussein tried it. It brought up the power menu, which could mean the option is a mistake or a bug.
A minor difference is that the Proactive Assistance option appears as a blue icon at the bottom of Settings on the Pixel 11, but as a yellow light bulb icon higher up on the menu on the Pixel 10.
