Google rolls out Gemini AI and dynamic noise cancellation to Pixel Buds ahead of Made by Google
Despite a hardware-light event, Google is enhancing its existing earbud lineup with deeper artificial intelligence integration and new colour options, arriving in September.
Google has confirmed that software updates for the Pixel Buds Pro 2 and Pixel Buds 2a will arrive in September, adding significant artificial intelligence capabilities to its existing audio hardware. The announcements were made during the company’s Made by Google event, which focused heavily on new smartphones, foldables, and wearables but notably excluded new earbud designs.
The updates introduce deeper integration with Google’s Gemini AI assistant, allowing users to adjust volume and equaliser settings via voice commands. This development aligns with the broader growth of the Gemini platform, which recently surpassed one billion monthly active users, placing it on par with competitor OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Voice engagement remains a key driver for the assistant, with 63 per cent of users interacting with the service through voice features.
For the Pixel Buds Pro 2, Google is introducing dynamic active noise cancellation designed to compensate for subtle shifts in the earbud seal. The system will automatically adjust to maintain noise isolation as the fit changes. While the technical specifics of the algorithm remain unelaborated, the feature aims to address common issues with seal integrity in true wireless earbuds.
Connectivity with the Pixel Watch is also being enhanced. The earbuds will sync with the watch to automatically pause music and disable notifications when the wearable detects that the user has fallen asleep. This functionality relies on the Pixel Watch’s internal sensors, meaning performance will depend on the hardware’s accuracy in detecting sleep states.
Additional features include an upgrade to the live translate function, which now supports over 70 languages. Users can activate listening mode by tapping the earbuds, allowing the algorithm to handle translation in real time. On the hardware side, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 will receive a new olive-green colour option, with preorders currently open. The Pixel Buds 2a, positioned as the budget-friendly alternative to the high-end Pro 2, will receive the same software enhancements without a new colour variant.
