Google will allow you to access its AI with just the press of a button—these are the new Chromebooks

Google has launched new updates for Chromebooks, along with two new laptops, including the first Galaxy Chromebook Plus from Samsung. One of the most notable new features is the addition of a new button called “Quick Insert” on these devices, which is located where the caps lock key used to be.

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“Quick Insert” offers quick access to contextual tools based on what appears on the screen. It allows you to insert emojis and GIFs or access advanced AI functions like Help Me Write, which assists in drafting texts or changing the tone of a sentence. Additionally, it allows quick access to links to open web pages and Google Drive files and even generates images using AI.

Among the new features, Help Me Read stands out, which allows summarizing the content of a page and acts as a chatbot to resolve queries. Additionally, Google has incorporated its Recorder app, which transcribes in real-time and adds tags to distinguish the voices of different people, and the Live Translate function, capable of translating text in any app.

The Chromebook Plus has also enhanced video call capabilities with a new option that better isolates the voice and eliminates background noise. It also adjusts facial lighting to improve on-screen appearance.

These updates are primarily aimed at Chromebook Plus devices, which must meet strict hardware specifications. However, Google has extended some of these features to standard Chromebooks, such as the Focus Mode to avoid distractions and the Welcome Recap feature, which allows users to pick up work right where they left off. Google has also made its Gemini chatbot accessible on all Chromebooks. However, it offers premium plans for those who purchase a Chromebook Plus, with 12 months of free access to the Google One AI Premium plan.

Additionally, along with the new features, two new laptops are being released this month: the Lenovo Duet, a detachable 2-in-1 with an 11-inch 2K display and MediaTek Kompanio 838 processor, and the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus, Samsung’s lightest yet, with a 15.6-inch OLED display and Intel Core 3 processor.

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