Google is adding a host of productivity-focused AI features to its Chromebook Plus lineup, including a screen selection tool to search and capture text, a tool that explains complex text, and NotebookLM.
The new screen selection tool works similarly to Google Lens and the Circle to Search feature in Chrome on smartphones: hold down the launch button or use the screenshot tool to highlight what’s on your screen and Google will instantly search for it. The tool also allows you to highlight text and quickly add an event to your calendar.
Last year, Google added a new “quick paste” key on some Chromebook Plus models that allows you to launch shortcuts. With this key, users can now access Google’s AI-powered image creation features, as well as AI-powered text writing tools.
Meanwhile, the new Simplify feature lets you use AI to explain, simplify, or summarize any text you choose.
Google is also providing all new Chromebook Plus users with a one-year subscription to the Google AI Pro plan, which includes access to the Gemini app, Flow video editing tool, Whisk image-to-video tool, Gemini in Gmail, Docs, and Chrome, and 2 TB of storage. Otherwise, the AI Pro plan costs $240 per year.
Along with these features, Google is launching two exclusive AI features for Lenovo’s new Chromebook Plus 14: one uses AI to recommend how to organize tabs and documents, and the other allows users to edit images using the Gallery app by removing the background or putting stickers on them.
Lenovo’s new Chromebook features a touchscreen OLED display and is powered by the ARM-based MediaTek Kompanio Ultra chip. It is available with 12 GB and 16 GB of RAM, priced at $649 and $749 respectively.
