Google's Pixel 8 to use Gemini Nano AI

Google's Gemini Nano AI model will be available on the Pixel 8 smartphone, providing on-device support for applications like the summary feature of the Recorder app and the Smart Reply toolkit on Gboard. This will be a significant development in AI-powered functionality, utilising the Tensor G3 chipset to improve user experience. Users of the Pixel 8 should expect more intelligent interactions and increased productivity.

The company originally said the Pixel 8 could not handle the Gemini Nano model because of hardware limitations despite it having the same chip as the Pixel 8 Pro. The only difference between both smartphones is RAM allocation. It seems the company has found a way to bypass that limitation.

The company will roll out two features of Pixel 8 Pro to Pixel 8, which will use Gemini Nano. The Recorder app’s Gemini-powered summary feature will no longer need to send data to a server and will work on the device locally to create summaries of recorded conversations.

In addition to this, the model will also power Gboard’s Smart Reply toolset on Pixel 8. This toolset will be aware of the context of conversations and will suggest responses to messages. The toolset was earlier exclusive to WhatsApp but it has been recently expanded to Line and Kakao Talk.

Furthermore, the model powers on-device Magic Compose in Messages on the Pixel 8 Pro and Samsung S24 but the company is yet to confirm whether this tool will be available on Pixel 8.