Google’s new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro have plenty of great new features, including an AI wallpaper generator. Here’s what it looks like in action!
At its Made by Google event on October 4, Google revealed the next generation of the Pixel portfolio of products. The stars of the show were the Google Pixel 8 and the Google Pixel 8 Pro.
For the Pixel 8, we now have a beautiful, 6.2-inch OLED display that reaches a 120Hz refresh rate, which is a nice bump over the 90Hz of the Google Pixel 7. The Pixel 8 Pro received more significant upgrades, including a new 6.7-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate that can reach 2,400 nits of peak brightness outdoors (making it the brightest screen on any smartphone). It also has a new 48MP ultrawide lens that joins the 50MP main camera and 48MP telephoto sensor. Both Pixel 8 devices also have the latest Tensor G3 chip for power and efficiency.
This year, Google has also added more AI features to the Pixel 8 lineup. There’s the new Best Take feature, which takes a series of photos with a focus on people’s faces. The result is a single image created by swapping out a person’s face from one image and replacing it with a better one from another. There’s also the Magic Editor, which allows you to move your subjects, change the sky, and more.
Oh, yeah — and we also have AI wallpapers.
Yes, you read that correctly. You can generate your own AI wallpapers for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro directly on your phone. It’s a fascinating feature, and it’s one I’ve had a lot of fun using.How to use the Pixel 8’s AI wallpaper feature
So, how can you create your own AI-generated wallpapers on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro? It’s pretty easy!
You’ll get a few different generated wallpapers with each prompt, and you can swipe to see them all. If you’re happy with one, select the checkmark in the upper-right corner to apply it as your lock screen or home screen (or both) wallpaper.
It’s important to note that any AI-generated wallpaper you choose to use will be saved under a section called “Your AI wallpapers” on the AI wallpaper screen. This lets you quickly access the ones you’d like to use at any time.AI wallpapers I made on the Google Pixel 8
If you were expecting a full-blown AI art generator like DALL-E, you’re going to be a little disappointed. The AI wallpaper generator on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro is limited to 12 themes, with each theme having its own specific prompt with limited customization choices.
Given what you have to work with, though, it’s a chance to create some very unique wallpaper images that no one else will have. Thankfully, the Pixel 8 will save any AI-generated wallpaper that you choose to use so that you can use it again in the future if you want.