Google Pixel 10's Magic Cue Might Just Be The Proactive Assistant You've Been Waiting For

2023-leaked Pixie assistant, which was originally rumored to make its debut with the Pixel 9 series in 2024, never really saw the light of day. Fast-forward to earlier this year, and a credible report alluded that the Pixie assistant had been rebranded, and it is now expected to make its way to the Pixel 10 series as a new app dubbed ‘Pixel Sense.’

The standalone will reportedly integrate with multiple other Google apps, allowing it to make contextual suggestions for relevant actions when it makes sense. Now, thanks to a newly-found setup screen, the assistant’s previously-leaked functionality seems to have been corroborated, alongside the fact that it might see the light of day with the Pixel 10, albeit with an exciting revelation.

Two grey Pixel 9 Pro phones being held in a man's hand with green plants in the background.

The AI-powered contextual assistant is going through another rebrand, with it now reportedly embracing the name Magic Cue.

As highlighted by leaker Mystic Leaks on their Telegram group, the new tool will be completely optional to use, with users having to manually “Turn on” the feature from relevant screens. “Get helpful info and actions, right when you need them,” reads Magic Cue’s initial set-up screen.

Magic Cue uses AI to show you useful details and time-saving actions based on the app you’re using. For example, if a friend asks for your flight number in a chat, Magic Cue can find it from your Gmail – saving you the search.

Magic Cue is essentially a proactive version of Gemini

A GIF highlighting the initial Magic Cue setup screen.

Source: Mystic Leaks on Telegram

It isn’t entirely clear what the app’s UI might look like, though, as seen in the short GIF above, it looks like recommended actions and suggestions will appear as a prompt notification stemming and expanding from your Pixel’s status bar.

The tool will essentially do what Gemini can already achieve, albeit without manual intervention. For example, with Gemini, you can manually ask the AI Assistant to find your flight number from a recent Gmail email, and it will provide relevant information. Magic Cue will essentially do the same, but without you having to manually trigger it.

The initial setup screen also highlights how the tool works. Here’s what it says:

Magic Cue uses AI to offer you personalized suggestions based on app usage data it collects, your recent screen activity, and certain Google app data. It also uses foundational data, such as the email and phone number from your Google Account.
You choose the apps Magic Cue can use data from in Magic Cue settings. These could include Gmail, Calendar, Keep, and Tasks data from your primary Google account, and Contacts, Messages and Screenshots on your device.
Your Magic Cue app data and recent screen activity are protected in a secure, isolated environment. Unless you choose to share it, that data is kept private.

Magic Cue will likely leverage Gemini Nano to bear the brunt of the operation, ensuring that your data is processed on-device and not shared with Google and its servers.

If the assistant is headed to the Pixel 10 series, we’re sure to learn more about it in the coming weeks as leaks about the flagship devices ramp up and intensify. The Pixel 10 series is expected to be unveiled on August 20.