Google Pixel 8 to get Gemini Nano with upcoming Feature Drop

Google, in a surprising act of responsiveness (or perhaps damage control), has reversed its earlier stance on the Pixel 8’s lack of support for the on-device AI model, Gemini Nano. Initially, the company cited vague “hardware limitations”, a curious claim given both Pixel 8 models share the same Tensor G3 chip. After all, why restrict a useful feature from owners who opted for the more budget-friendly option?

Well, it seems the power of public outcry does hold some sway. With the next Feature Drop, Pixel 8 users will finally get to experience Gemini Nano, though initially in a developer preview mode, says Google. At least Google is transparent about using us as beta testers! Nevertheless, this news is music to my ears considering I just got my hands on the Pixel 8.

So, what wonders can you expect? Gemini Nano will power the “Summarize” feature in the Recorder app on the Pixel 8. For those who dread reviewing lengthy meeting recordings, fear not! Gemini Nano will magically condense them into convenient bullet points. Furthermore, it’ll enhance Gboard’s Smart Reply function too. Get ready for even more intelligent (and potentially intrusive) suggestions as you type. Gemini Nano promises “higher-quality smart replies” with “conversational awareness.” Of course, over the coming months we’ll likely see more use cases.

While it’s great to see a win for Pixel 8 owners, it does beg the question – why all the initial drama? Was it a marketing ploy to push the pricier Pro model, or simply a genuine technical limitation that was cleverly resolved? We may never know, but at least Google ultimately listened to its users. Maybe there’s hope for those other missing Pixel 8 features yet!