In the most recent episode of the 'Made by Google' Podcast, Seang Chau, VP of Devices & Services Software, revealed that Google has announced support for Gemini Nano on the Pixel 8, despite initially citing "hardware limitations" as the cause for the delay. This news was shared on the podcast by Google.
Pixel 8 with Gemini Nano
According to Google, the developer preview of Gemini Nano will soon be accessible on Pixel 8. It will be powering the features of Summarize in Recorder and Gboard Smart Reply. These features promise quicker and more conversational responses, and Summarize can also create bullet points from recordings.
In the meantime, the Pixel 8 Pro offers an expanded Smart Reply feature for WhatsApp, Line, and KakaoTalk, thanks to its 12 GB RAM. The main distinction between the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro lies in their RAM capabilities, with the former having 8 GB and the latter having 12 GB.
According to Google, the performance of big language models on phones with varying memory specifications can lead to varying user experiences, and they have thoroughly tested this.
According to reports, Google has discovered a way to execute LLM on lower RAM while still maintaining the same user experience, similar to smaller devices such as the Galaxy S24.
The upcoming Pixel Feature Drop, expected to be released in Android 14 QPR3, is likely to include the inclusion of Gemini Nano. This update, scheduled for June, will not only bring improvements for end-users but also grant Pixel 8 developers access to AICore for their apps.
Google clarifies the 7-year duration of Pixel updates
The commitment of Google to provide updates for Pixel devices for 7 years has been further explained, with the company collaborating with suppliers, partners, and the Android team to achieve this goal. Google credits the reliability of quarterly updates to their continuous beta programs and thorough testing throughout the year.
The choice to prolong assistance for 7 years was made after analyzing user data, taking into account factors such as device usage time and reselling. Google's goal is to offer software-based features in the final stage of the 7-year period, without the need for any extra hardware.
The implementation of Gemini Nano on Pixel 8 posed a challenge due to the limited RAM capacity and the memory-intensive nature of LLM. In order to ensure a seamless user experience, Google conducted thorough tests and utilized techniques such as lazy loading and keeping important models loaded for functions like Smart Reply.
The upcoming Feature Drop from Google is being prepared for through the ongoing conduction of system health validations. This is to guarantee a smooth integration of new features into their devices.