Update 1 (April 15, 2024)
11:50 am (IST): OnePlus now says the initial press release that mentioned Gemini Ultra was a mistake, meaning the Pixel 8 Pro will likely keep its AI crown at least until the release of the Pixel 9 Pro.
Original article from April 11 follows:
Pixel 8 Pro owners will be feeling a bit shortchanged after a surprise announcement at the Google Cloud Next event revealed that upcoming OnePlus and OPPO smartphones will feature Gemini 1.0 Ultra — Google’s most advanced AI model to date.
This news effectively puts the Pixel 8 Pro, which is currently the crème de la crème of AI in smartphones, in the passenger’s seat. The phone launched with a focus on AI-driven features, but it relies on a less potent Gemini Nano model. The move puts OnePlus and OPPO devices in line to potentially become the ultimate AI-powered smartphones, leaving the Pixel 8 Pro playing second fiddle.
The news that OnePlus and OPPO phones will also support other AI-powered features that have previously been exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro and select Samsung phones such as news and audio summaries will leave some users even more concerned about the position of the device in the AI hierarchy. You’ll no longer brag to your friends about having unique AI features that only devices with Gemini Nano can handle.
While it’s likely that the upcoming Pixel 9 series will ship with the same powerful Gemini Ultra model or something even more advanced, the current situation highlights a curious strategy from Google. The decision to give competing brands access to its most capable AI technology so soon after the Pixel 8 Pro’s release is a head-scratcher.
It remains to be seen how this plays out in the competitive smartphone market, but one sure thing is that the AI crown might not sit long on the Pixel 8 Pro’s head. But hey, this is what you should come to expect if AI is to progress. Also, Google needs to make some money off one of their biggest products, and there’s no better way than sharing it with other smartphone vendors at a small fee.
Hillary Keverenge
2119 Posts
Tech has been my playground for over a decade. While the Android journey began early, it truly took flight with the revolutionary Lollipop update. Since then, it's been a parade of Android devices (with a sprinkle of iOS), culminating in a mostly happy marriage with Google's smart home ecosystem. Expect insightful articles and explorations of the ever-evolving world of Android and Google products coupled with occasional rants on the Nest smart home ecosystem.
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