Google is Apparently Developing its Version of Apple AirTag

Google is apparently developing its version of Apple AirTag called Gorgu over the past few years

Google is working on a competing Bluetooth tracking product to Apple's AirTag. The Pixel 6 Pro and Pixel 7 Pro, two of Google's high-end "Pro" phones, have had ultra-wideband (UWB) connections since 2021. Google wants to see UWB used more regularly, even if the hardware has thus far only been used in niche instances like sending data to a friend or unlocking a fancy car.

The new Nest speaker being created by Google will support UWB and enable quick audio transfers when your Pixel is placed next to the speaker. Over the past several years, Google has put a lot of effort into making the "Find My Device" app capable of using the millions of Android smartphones now in use to locate lost or stolen devices.

Attaching one of Apple's AirTags to a gadget is one of the finest methods to monitor it in the company's ecosystem. These accessories' Bluetooth and UWB signals enable precise inch-by-inch localization of the gadgets when coupled with the countless iPhones already in use.

Google is reportedly developing its monitoring system to rival Apple AirTags, grow its own "Finder Network," and perhaps improve the use of UWB on Pixel phones. The information was leaked by Android researcher Kuba Wojciechowski, who frequently divulges details regarding Pixel products.

The iconic Star Wars television show "The Mandalorian" is referenced in the codename "Grogu," which is also used for the tracker along with the other names "GR10" and "Groguaudio." The tracker may come in different colors, according to the only other information that has been made public so far. The Nest team is driving the development.

Bluetooth trackers have been around for a while, but because of their accuracy and surprising popularity, there are valid concerns about how to identify whether a tracker has been installed on your property without your consent. To do this, we reported in 2017 that Google was working on "Unfamiliar device alerts," which would let your Android phone notify you of any nearby trackers.

It is currently difficult to predict when Google's first-party tracker will launch or how long it will take to create. A tracker with equivalent UWB compatibility may follow suit given that the UWB-equipped Nest Audio successor is currently projected to come in either the fall of 2023 or the spring of 2024.