(Image credit: John Velasco / Tom's Guide)
I remember the old days when you got a new Android phone and, even before you finished the setup process, you were given the option to get free Google Photos backup. Really, who would pass up an offer like that? Alternatively, when I reviewed the Moto X, I was floored by its promotion offering 50GB of free Google Drive storage for two years.Clearly, I got hooked on all of these free offers and didn’t think much about how dependent I’d ultimately become on cloud storage. So, when all of the promotions expired, I was forced to shell out for a subscription. And you know what? This same strategy is playing out all over again with the Pixel 11 launch.While some people question why Google is still making phones, I think the hardware portfolio functions as a digital lure — pulling us into an ecosystem that we can’t live without. And that’s what I love and hate about Google AI Pro. Here’s why.Pixel 11 Pro launch follows a similar strategy with Google AI Pro
(Image credit: John Velasco / Tom's Guide)Just a couple of years ago, when the Pixel 9 Pro launched, Google was offering a free one-year trial of Gemini Advanced with your purchase. That was my first real taste of Google’s new AI features, and it served as my introduction to Gemini Live.I was skeptical about how AI could transform my daily life, but as I spent more time exploring Gemini Live and the other features on the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL — like Reimagine, Pixel Studio, and Pixel Screenshots — I became increasingly reliant on them.Naturally, there are a few impressive new capabilities unlocked with Google AI Pro on the Pixel 11 Pro, 11 Pro XL, and 11 Pro Fold. For example, I got to try out one of Google’s latest models on the Pixel 11 Pro, Gemini Omni, which can create and edit videos for me. I’m not just talking about generating clips from text prompts because it can take existing videos I’ve shot and apply real edits — like adding effects, replacing backgrounds, and much more.What’s truly impressive about this model is how intuitive it is. You simply launch Gemini, attach your video, and type out your requests. After a couple of minutes, it pulls off edits that would be nearly impossible for me to execute manually in my professional video editing software.Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.Having worked in retail past, I know that services and subscriptions are high-margin revenue drivers. That's part of the reason why Google continues to make phones. If you’re like me and these AI tools become indispensable to your workflow, you’re far more likely to pony up down the road just to keep them.Proof that software is more critical than hardware
