Google’s Nano AI Model Not Available on Pixel 8 Handsets Due to Hardware Limitations
Background
Google recently introduced its smallest AI model, Nano, which is part of its generative Gemini series. However, it has been confirmed that Nano will not be available on Google’s latest Pixel 8 handsets. This limitation seems to be attributed to certain hardware restrictions that hinder Nano’s compatibility with the Pixel 8 devices.
The Announcement and Features
In December, Google announced Nano’s launch, highlighting its provision of various advanced AI capabilities. This includes text summarization of audio recordings and Magic Compose, which autonomously generates text message responses. Nano runs flawlessly on high-end Android smartphones such as the Pixel 8 Pro and Samsung’s Galaxy S24 line, elevating user experience with advanced AI-powered functionalities.
Hardware Limitations on Pixel 8
The Pixel 8, released in October, shares identical hardware specifications with the Pixel 8 Pro. Both devices are equipped with Google’s Tensor G3 processor, as well as CPU and GPU cores. However, the Pixel 8 offers 8GB of RAM, while the Pro version is equipped with 12GB, providing Pixel 8 Pro users with a performance advantage.
Terence Zhang, an engineer specializing in generative AI on Google Android, revealed that the hardware limitations primarily stem from the Pixel 8’s restricted 8GB RAM. Consequently, Nano’s advanced AI functions will not be available on the Pixel 8 devices.
The Role of AICore
Recognizing smartphones’ memory and compute limitations, Google developed AICore, an Android system service. Its purpose is to enable Google Nano, enhancing ML inference tasks like text generation, to be performed on smartphones. However, because AICore is designed to be compatible with Nano, smartphones without Nano, like the Pixel 8, do not include AICore functionality. Google emphasizes that AICore is presently exclusively available on the Pixel 8 Pro and Samsung S24 Series devices in its developer documentation.
Utilizing AICore not only allows local AI capabilities without Internet connectivity but also ensures that text generation is completely private, without data leaving the device. Additionally, AICore enhances performance by reducing latency. Zhang also mentioned that the service is provided free of charge, as all AI tasks are performed using the device’s hardware, eliminating the need for the cloud.
Future AI Features
While Nano functionality is absent on the Pixel 8, Google does plan to introduce additional AI features in the future. These features will be available on Google’s voice-controlled Assistant and will be powered by the larger Gemini Pro and Ultra models. The roll-out is expected to occur next year, offering additional AI advancements for Pixel device users.
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