Now You Can Try Google’s Project Astra: Multimodal AI for Everyday Tasks
Imagine pointing your phone’s camera at the ingredients in your kitchen and asking, “What can I make with this?” Instantly, the AI identifies the ingredients and suggests recipes tailored to them. That’s exactly the kind of smart assistance Google’s Project Astra promises. This is powered by Google’s latest AI model,Gemini 2.0 Flash, and here’s everything you need to know about this.
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What is Project Astra?
At its core, Google’s new AI tool Project Astra is a multimodal AI assistant. Multimodal simply means it can handle different types of inputs such as text, images, videos, and audio simultaneously.
For example, you may point the camera at a shelf full of books and ask Astra, “Which one has the highest reviews?” Astra can identify the titles, check online ratings, and suggest the best option.
Not just the camera, it can also analyze what’s on your phone’s screen. For instance, if you’re browsing a webpage and come across a term or product you don’t recognize, you’re able to ask Astra to explain it or find more information.
Astra can also perform actions on your phone, like ordering online, setting up an alarm, etc. More than that, it can also remember things. So if you point the camera at a drawing and ask, “Who drew this?” Astra will tap its memory and might reply – “It’s drawn by your daughter.”
Think of it like having a supercharged version of Google Assistant that listens and understands the world the way you do.
Real-World Use Cases
Here are some ways you can use Astra
Google is also working on AI agents for games where it can suggest in-game strategies like where to deploy troops or which weapon to upgrade, etc. Also, they are experimenting with prototype glasses that can see, listen, and respond using Astra.
How to Access Astra Right Now
Project Astra is still in its testing phase and it’s not available to the public right now. However, you can get a preview of Project Astra’s capabilities through a feature called “Stream Realtime” available on Google AI Studio. Here’s how you can access it:
Remember this is just the preview phase and the tool may not support features like multi-language support and memory as of now.
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Other Projects Powered by Gemini 2.0
In addition to Project Astra, Google has unveiled other AI initiatives powered by the Gemini 2.0 model.Project Marineris designed to perform tasks in the Chrome browser, like navigating pages and gathering data, making it ideal for enhancing productivity. Jules, on the other hand, acts as a coding assistant, helping developers with GitHub workflows and programming tasks.
Ravi Teja KNTS
Tech writer with over 4 years of experience at TechWiser, where he has authored more than 700 articles on AI, Google apps, Chrome OS, Discord, and Android. His journey started with a passion for discussing technology and helping others in online forums, which naturally grew into a career in tech journalism. Ravi’s writing focuses on simplifying technology, making it accessible and jargon-free for readers. When he’s not breaking down the latest tech, he’s often immersed in a classic film – a true cinephile at heart.
