Let's talk about screenshots… I know it sounds boring, but it's actually pretty important… So don't you dare click away!
I take screenshots, you take screenshots – we all take screenshots. It's the fastest way to “save” information and we love saving time so we can waste it later on social media.
Whether you want to save a funny meme or a recipe (I do this all the time but never cook it), or keep track of something important, screenshots are basically my generation's sticky notes. And just like sticky notes, they pile up, and before you know it, your phone's gallery looks like my mom's basement.
When I saw Google's new “Pixel Screenshots” app on the Pixel 9 series, I was of course excited – finally someone thinks about screenshots! To be honest, it's almost like Google took one look at my chaotic life/phone and said “it's time to help it out”…
The Pixel 9 series' Pixel Screenshots app could change your terrible screenshot habits
Pixel Screenshots is Google's new app for storing your screenshots in one place. But it offers a lot more!
In short, Google's new Pixel Screenshots app will store all your screenshots, meaning your Gallery app will no longer be full of random screenshots. But it gets even better…
The app doesn't just save your screenshots in a folder and that's it… Google has put more thought into this and (you can bet!) used a whole lot of AI.
The Pixel Screenshots app uses artificial intelligence to give your screenshots titles based on the content, so if you take a screenshot of a recipe for fried rice with peanuts (I know I did this), the app should label it something like “fried rice with peanuts” rather than just “IMG_482742_492749”.
Does Google not understand the essence? I want to take fewer screenshots – not more
But, but, but… Here comes my but…
As much as I love the idea of having my screenshots neatly organized in an app, I can't help but think about it… Do we really need to take more screenshots?! I mean, if this keeps up, my phone's storage will be as full as an Olympic village during the Summer Games.
Here’s a “secret”… screenshots take up a lot of space on your phone!
If it works, Apple's new Personal Context feature might be a better idea for managing screenshots (since it eliminates the need to take them).
Apple's personal context feature could be very helpful, but it needs to see everything on your iPhone.
But! This is where Apple's upcoming Personal Context feature in iOS 18 comes in. Unlike Google, Apple is trying something completely different – maybe even something smarter.
Instead of organizing your screenshots, personal context may prevent you from taking so many screenshots in the first place.
The iPhone's AI-powered “Personal Context” feature could use Siri to eliminate the need to take screenshots by giving Siri access to your entire phone. This would allow Siri to know everything and remember everything. And this would allow Siri to answer questions based on everything on your iPhone – text messages, emails, Safari tabs, etc.
For example, if you ask Siri, “When does my mom’s flight land?” (like in Apple’s on-stage demo), Siri will retrieve the information from wherever it’s stored (such as an email, a message, or even a screenshot you forgot about!) and answer your question.
My point is that with Personal Context on iPhone, you may not even need to take a screenshot for your phone to remember the information. Need to see it later? Just ask Siri…
However, Personal Context doesn't literally remember everything you see on your screen. I guess it depends on the apps you give access to.
Not to mention, this feature is kind of creepy… I mean, giving Siri access to all your apps to pull up information sounds like inviting a nosy neighbor over for a barbecue. They might bring a good potato salad, but do you really want them to know where you keep your spare keys?
People will continue to take screenshots no matter what. The goal of AI should be to help us sort through them.
Pixel screenshots working on the Pixel 9. Image courtesy of Mashable.
Ultimately, I'm really glad that Google's Pixel Screenshots app is now available. It could be a game-changer for people like me who already have a ton of screenshots and need help organizing and finding them. It's a simple solution and doesn't require me to change the way I work.
On the other hand, Apple's Personal Context could fundamentally solve what I call the “screenshot problem” by making screenshots less necessary in the first place.
Until I see it in action, however, I'm not ready to say it's the better idea. Besides, if Siri is going to know all of my information, she'd better do it right. Which she hasn't done very well in the past.
Anyway… I am looking forward to the Pixels 9 so I can try out the Google Pixel's screenshot app. And let's see what Personal Context can do when it comes out later this year.
Who knows! Maybe I won't even have to take screenshots of the Turkish John Wick at the next Olympic Games…