ChromeOS: Google announces new AI functions and Chromebook with Mediatek chip

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With the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14, Google is announcing a cloud-based notebook with an OLED display that is equipped with “the most powerful AI features ever seen on a Chromebook”. At its heart is not an Intel, AMD or Qualcomm chip, but MediaTek's Kompanio Ultra processor, which was announced in April 2025.

In addition to some functions that can currently be run exclusively on Lenovo's Chromebook Plus on-device device, Google has also presented other features that are to be made available for all Chromebook Plus models. Among other things, a kind of circle-to-search.

Exclusive AI functions for Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14

The new MediaTek chip enables the execution of some new AI functions directly on the Chromebook in order to “increase efficiency”, according to the manufacturer. Two functions will initially be offered exclusively for the new Lenovo model: With the so-called “Intelligent Grouping”, open tabs and documents are to be sorted into logical groups based on current tasks. In this way, “multiple projects can be managed in the blink of an eye”.

AI is also moving into the Gallery app, which will make it easier to edit images. Among other things, backgrounds can be removed with one click and stickers can be created from your own photos. An internet connection is required for the latter function.

New AI functions for all Chromebook Plus models

In addition to the exclusive AI functions, Google has announced further functions that will be available on all Chromebook Plus laptops. These will be integrated directly into ChromeOS.

With the new “Lens” selection and search function, Google's “Circle to Search” function is finally moving into Chromebooks. With a long press on the launcher or in the screenshot tool, users will be able to select an object on a website or video and search for it on the web.

ChromeOS is also getting a text capture feature that allows users to retrieve information directly from images. As examples, Google mentions receipts or recipes that can be converted directly into text without typing.

A new “Quick Insert” button, which is part of Caps Lock and is apparently being introduced with Lenovo's Chromebook, allows users to quickly create high-resolution AI images and emojis and insert them where they are needed – to enhance documents or presentations, for example.

In addition, the “Create an overview for me” function is intended to summarize more complex texts. With a new “Simplify” button, users can “turn complicated formulations into easy-to-understand language and overloaded text passages into more readable versions”.
text passages into more readable versions”.

Gemini AI Pro: NotebookLM lands in the taskbar for paid customers

Other ChromeOS innovations in the AI area include a shortcut to NotebookLM in the taskbar and numerous Gemini functions in Gmail, Docs and other Google services. These functions require a Google AI Pro account, which is offered free of charge for twelve months with the purchase of a Chromebook Plus device.

In addition, the Netflix game “Squid Game: Unleashed” has been optimized for large screens and can be played on the Chromebook with a keyboard and mouse – including “exclusive in-game items”. The AI-based photo editing software “Luminar” has also been optimized for Chromebooks. The application is free for three months with the purchase of a Chromebook Plus.

What's inside the new Lenovo Chromebook 14 Plus?

Let's move on to further details of the new hardware: Lenovo's Chromebook 14 Plus has a 14-inch OLED display with Full-HD resolution (1920 × 1200 pixels) and 16-10 aspect ratio. The Kompanio Ultra 910 chip from MediaTek is manufactured in a 3 nm process at TSMC and has an ARM Cortex X925 (ARM v9.2) with a clock frequency of up to 3.62 GHz as well as three Cortex X4 and four Cortex A720 cores.

The new eight-core chip enables, among other things, the execution of various AI functions directly on the new Lenovo Chromebook. Part of the MediaTek processor in the Chromebook Plus model is an NPU that is designed to achieve up to 50 TOPS, which is more than the 40 TOPS that Microsoft demands as a minimum requirement for its Copilot Plus PCs. Qualcomm's previous ARM-based Elite processors deliver up to 45 TOPS.

In terms of memory, there is a choice of 12 or 16 GB DDR5X RAM and 128 or 256 GB SSDs. WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 as well as Dolby Atmos are also on board. The five-megapixel webcam can be locked with a shutter, and the 60 Wh battery is said to last up to 17 hours.

The Chromebook costs from 650 euros and can be ordered now, according to Google.

(afl)