Google Pixel 9 to bring iOS 18-like AI sticker creation feature with 'Creative Assistant'

Google is working on bringing its own AI-powered creativity tool to take on Apple’s recently unveiled Genmoji feature. According to a report from Android Authority, code found in Android 15 Beta 3 suggests the upcoming Pixel 9 series could include a new “Creative Assistant” app that leverages artificial intelligence to generate custom stickers and potentially emojis.

While the Creative Assistant app itself is not available in the current Android beta, references to it have been spotted in other apps like Google’s Markup tool for screenshot editing. Code shows a “remix” button that appears to launch an activity from the Creative Assistant, hinting that users may be able to create AI-generated stickers and paste them onto images.

Much like Apple’s Genmoji on iOS 18 allows users to generate personalized emojis through the Messages app using generative AI, Google’s Creative Assistant could offer a similar experience for creating custom stickers and emojis on Pixel devices.

One key question is whether the AI sticker creation will happen directly on-device or rely on cloud processing. The Tensor G4 chip with an upgraded Gemini Nano co-processor rumored for the Pixel 9 could potentially handle on-device generation for smaller sticker assets.

Google has long enabled sticker creation and customization through its Gboard keyboard app. The Creative Assistant seems a natural evolution to integrate generative AI capabilities for more advanced personalization.

While initially expected as a Pixel-exclusive feature, the presence of the app’s stub in Android 15 Beta 3 for the Pixel 8 hints that it could potentially come to existing Tensor-powered Pixels as well.

As generative AI experiences become a key focus and differentiator for mobile platforms, Google’s take on an AI sticker studio with the Creative Assistant could make the Pixel 9 series a compelling option versus other Android devices. But it’s likely that the feature may expand to devices from other manufactures, such as Samsung.