How To Enable Gemini Nano On Pixel 8 And 8A

What is Gemini Nano?

Gemini Nano is a lightweight version of Google’s generative AI model. This will reside within your smartphone, eliminating the need to frequently contact the server every time you need a response from the AI. The responses will be faster, and it will play a big role later down the line, enabling AI features on different apps and services on your phone.

How to Enable Gemini Nano on Pixel 8 and 8a

Unlike the Pixel 8 Pro, Gemini Nano is not turned on by default in Pixel 8 and 8a devices. It is hidden within the AI core settings and needs to be turned on. Here is how you can do it.
You’ve now successfully enabled Gemini Nano on your Pixel device.

What Is Gemini Nano Capable Of?

At the time of writing this article, there is not much you can do with Gemini Nano on your phone. But according to Google’s Store page, a couple of features using on-device AI are available for some users right now. Let’s take a look at them.

Transcribe and Summaries in Recorder: The Google Recorder app can understand and transcribe your recordings to text accurately using Gemini Nano. On Pixel 8 Pro, it can even create a summary of the transcription. Smart Compose in Google Messages: The Smart Compose feature in Google Messages also takes advantage of Gemini Nano, quickly changing what you wrote to different tones and styles. Image Descriptions with Talkback: This feature will help describe an image to a blind or visually impaired person using the Talkback accessibility option. It will be available when Gemini Nano receives multi-modality.

At Google I/O 2024, it was revealed the multi-modal capability is coming to Gemini Nano. This will allow it to accept voice and image-based inputs as well. You can read in-depth about it in this story. In its current state, it can only understand text-based input.
This is how you can enable Gemini Nano on a Pixel 8 and 8a. I’m glad that Google is providing on-device AI capabilities to even its lower-priced A-series device this time. If you have any doubts regarding this article, then do reach out to us in the comments below.