Google is significantly enhancing the capabilities of ChromeOS, rolling out powerful new artificial intelligence (AI) features that are available starting today. These aren’t limited to just new devices; many of the most impactful upgrades are coming as a free software update to existing Chromebook Plus users, alongside the launch of exciting new hardware.
This push leverages Google’s advancements in AI to make daily tasks on Chromebooks faster, smarter, and more intuitive, positioning them as increasingly capable machines for everything from casual browsing to more complex productivity tasks.
Let’s dive into the key features rolling out now that you can start using on your Chromebook Plus device.
Free AI Power-Ups for Existing Chromebook Plus Devices
Google is bringing several helpful AI-driven tools directly to the ChromeOS experience for users who already own a Chromebook Plus. These features integrate seamlessly into the operating system, designed to boost productivity and simplify common actions.
1. Select to Search & Text Capture
Instantly get information or extract text from anything on your screen. Whether it’s an image, a document, or a website, you can now easily initiate a Google search or copy text simply by:
Long-pressing the on-screen launcher button.
Hitting the screenshot key.
This brings a level of screen analysis previously seen on Android phones directly to your laptop, allowing you to act on visual information without needing to manually re-type or switch apps.
2. Enhanced Quick Insert Key (QI)
The Quick Insert key, already a versatile tool for quickly adding GIFs, emojis, and links, is getting a major upgrade. Leveraging Gemini’s generative AI, the QI key now has the ability to generate images on demand.
This transforms the key into a creative tool, allowing users to conjure and insert visuals directly into their workflow with a single press, making communication or content creation much faster.
3. Simplify Tool
Dealing with dense or complex text? The new Simplify tool is here to help. This feature uses AI to paraphrase and summarize selected text sections into more easily digestible sentences.
It’s particularly useful for students, researchers, or anyone needing to quickly grasp the core points of an article or document without getting bogged down in jargon or lengthy paragraphs.
Showcasing the Future: The New Lenovo Chromebook Plus
While existing users get a significant boost, Google also unveiled new hardware designed to showcase the full potential of the updated ChromeOS. A standout is the new Lenovo Chromebook Plus, which brings premium features and exclusive AI capabilities to the lineup.
During initial hands-on impressions, the device impressed with its sleek build quality and vibrant display.
Premium Specs and Performance
The Lenovo Chromebook Plus boasts specifications typically found in higher-end laptops:
Display: Features a stunning OLED display with crisp resolution (1920 x 1200 WUXGA) and good brightness (400 nits). Touchscreen is an option for added versatility.
Power: Equipped with the MediaTek Kompanio Ultra processor, making it one of the first Chromebook Plus devices to feature a powerful Arm-based chip. It offers significant processing power, including up to 50 TOPS dedicated to AI tasks.
Memory & Storage: Supports up to 16GB of RAM (starting with 12GB in the base configuration) for smooth multitasking.
Connectivity: Includes support for the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard.
External Display Support: Capable of supporting two external monitors at 4K resolution, enhancing productivity for workstation setups.
Battery Life: Offers exceptional battery life, rated up to 17 hours – noted as the most of any Chromebook to date.
Other Premium Touches: Includes Dolby-supported speakers and a fanless design for quiet operation.
Exclusive AI Tools on the Lenovo Flagship
As a top-tier device, the new Lenovo Chromebook Plus also includes AI features unique to the hardware, building on the core ChromeOS updates:
Smart Grouping: An organizational dream for anyone juggling multiple tasks. ChromeOS intelligently groups similar browser tabs and documents based on their content, making it easier to manage complex projects across virtual desktops.
- Enhanced Gallery App Editing: Brings powerful on-device image editing capabilities to the native Gallery app. You can perform common tasks like removing backgrounds, adjusting tones, and even turning parts of images into stickers, similar to features found on Google’s Pixel phones.
- www.zdnet.com
- www.androidauthority.com
- www.androidcentral.com
- www.laptopmag.com
- www.pcworld.com
Starting at $649 (or $749 with a touchscreen), this device is positioned as a premium option, offering significant power and features that aim to justify its price point for users needing a capable and portable machine.
Furthermore, new Chromebook Plus devices, including the Lenovo model, come with NotebookLM (Google’s AI-powered note-taking and organization software) pre-installed and include a free year of Google AI Pro with Gemini, putting Google’s most advanced AI tools front and center for users.
Chromebooks: Evolving Beyond the Basics
These updates signal Google’s clear intention to evolve ChromeOS beyond its reputation as primarily an education or basic web-browsing platform. By deeply integrating AI and introducing more powerful hardware options like the new Lenovo, Google is equipping Chromebooks to handle a wider array of “medium screen” tasks, from complex research and writing to creative projects.
The Chromebook Plus designation, introduced in late 2023, already sets a baseline for performance and features (including mandated AI capabilities) that make devices like the popular Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 or the sleek Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus robust options. The free AI software updates ensure these existing devices also benefit from Google’s latest innovations.
This focus on AI-driven functionality, combined with the simplicity, speed, and security ChromeOS is known for, could position Chromebooks as a strong alternative for users seeking a modern, efficient computing experience, potentially challenging competing platforms like Windows Copilot.
Alongside the Lenovo, new Chromebooks from Asus (CX15, CX14) and HP (a new 14-inch model) are also on the horizon, promising an expanded lineup benefiting from these new capabilities.
The future of ChromeOS looks increasingly smart, offering a blend of accessible, free software upgrades and compelling new hardware that enhances productivity for a growing base of users.
