Google will allow the Pixel 8 to use artificial intelligence on the device after all
Allison Johnson/The Verge
Google has changed its initial stance and will allow the Pixel 8 to use artificial intelligence features on the device itself. In the next Pixel Feature Drop update, the smartphone will get support for the Gemini Nano large language model for several AI features.
Details
In December, Google announced Gemini Nano, a large language model optimised for mobile devices. The company said it would be a core part of Android in the future.
However, Google later decided to add Gemini Nano only to the Pixel 8 Pro due to "hardware limitations" of the younger model. despite using the same Tensor G3 chipset. This decision drew criticism from experts and Pixel fans who felt that the amount of RAM shouldn't be a barrier to running AI on a smartphone.
After reconsidering its stance, Google will give the Pixel 8 a developer preview of Gemini Nano in the next Pixel Feature Drop update. This will allow the smartphone to perform functions like writing summaries and smart replies in Gboard directly on the device, similar to the Pixel 8 Pro.
Gemini Nano is coming to #Pixel8 as a developer preview in a future #FeatureDrop!
- Made by Google (@madebygoogle) March 28, 2024
As our most efficient AI model for on-device tasks, it helps prevent sensitive data from leaving your phone & enables you to use features even without a network connection: https://t.co/smhWbpZN3X pic.twitter.com/z2Ob95jKxt
Go Deeper:
- Google has released the Gemini AI model in three configurations
- Not just smartphones: Google will add Gemini to headphones
- Google, this is discrimination: the Pixel 8 won't get Gemini Nano AI
Source: The Verge
