When Google unveiled the Pixel 8 family, we discovered that Gemini Nano, its local AI version (which works without the need for servers), would be integrated into it. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are the benchmark under Android, and they also intend to be compared to the artificial intelligence additionscourtesy of Samsung Galaxy AI.
However, as we read in Android Police, this ultimately won’t be the case: the Gemini Nano’s generative AI features They remain exclusively for the most premium modelthe Pixel 8 Pro. And there’s a reason, even if it’s not enough for you.
When RAM makes the difference
Google Gemini is Google’s chatbot, but it’s also the new virtual assistant and a new Android app, and it repeats itself as the brand name of Google’s AI products. This unification comes from the name given to the language models developed by the search engine company: Gemini Pro, Gemini Ultra and Gemini Nano.
It is precisely this last point that is in the news today, and it has been confirmed that Nano won’t come to the Pixel 8. Google itself commented on this, in an episode of MWC 2024 focused on AI that you can watch on YouTube. After what they had prepared, the questions and answers (Questions and Answers, in Spanish) began to answer users’ questions.
From one of them we extract the comment that leaves no doubt: “Nano will not come to the Pixel 8 due to some hardware limitations.” Right after, they tried to soften it by pointing out that will reach other devices
What hardware limitation is Google talking about? Just take a look at the spec sheet of the two phones to find some differences. Same processor, same set of cameras, the screen has nothing to do with it… There’s just one piece of information that doesn’t fit. Indeed, RAM memory.
While the Pixel 8 adds 8GB of RAM, enough for efficient multitasking, the Pixel 8 Pro bumps it up to 12GB. This is the key and why the base model of the latest Google Pixel will not benefit from local AI.
Having no choice but to accept it, it is attracting attention, especially after learning last week that MediaTek processors will also be able to use Gemini Nano. Of course, apparently they will have to align these processors from the Chinese manufacturer with good amounts of RAM, otherwise they will suffer the same fate as the Pixel 8.
In any case, from what we have seen of the Gemini Nano on the Pixel 8 Pro, we can say that offers nothing different (at least for now). For now, it only includes a tool for summarizing voice notes and some smart replies in Gboard. It will continue to improve in the future, and that’s why Google will surely give the Pixel 9 a little more RAM.
By | Android Font
Cover image | Ricardo Aguilar for Xataka
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