Google's Next Pixel Phone Will Be Powered By a Custom Chip

What do you do when advancements in software outpace those in hardware? You just start building the hardware yourself. Google said on Monday that its next flagship phones--the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, both due this fall--will be powered by a custom-built processor called Tensor. Codesigned over the past four years with machine learning and artificial intelligence experts, it's built for all the Android-based wizardry in the upcoming Pixel phones. The move comes at a time when tech industry giants increasingly favor custom designs for the processors that power their phones, laptops, and other gadgets.