Google Pixel 9a Reportedly Runs Smaller Gemini Nano LLM, Misses Out on AI Options Because of RAM Constraints

Google Pixel 9a debuted on Wednesday as the most recent addition to the corporate’s inexpensive “a” sequence lineup. To attain a lower cost tag, the cellphone sacrifices among the options seen within the flagship Pixel 9 fashions. Whereas the Pixel 9a nonetheless gives synthetic intelligence (AI) capabilities powered by Google’s massive language mannequin (LLM), a report suggests {that a} decrease 8GB RAM forces the handset to run a smaller model of Gemini Nano in comparison with its flagship counterparts.

Smaller Gemini Mannequin on the Google Pixel 9a

The Google Pixel 9a is powered by the identical Tensor G4 SoC as different Pixel 9 fashions however with a decrease 8GB of RAM. Because of this limitation, the Mountain View-based expertise large has carried out a brand new LLM to energy the cellphone’s AI options. Google reportedly confirmed to ArsTechnica that the brand new Pixel 9a runs Gemini Nano 1.0 XXS (further further small) LLM in a bid to avoid wasting assets and mitigate points associated to native AI processing attributable to reminiscence constraints.

In contrast to its flagship counterparts, the LLM doesn’t repeatedly run within the background on the Pixel 9a. As an alternative, the cellphone solely hundreds it when required. The report provides that this may increasingly trigger some options to be a bit much less responsive.

Nonetheless, a extra regarding issue is that the LLM doesn’t have multimodality, which means it will possibly solely course of text-based instructions. As per the report, this raises doubts over the supply of a number of multimodal options such because the Pixel Screenshots app, which is claimed to be unavailable on the cellphone. The app, launched alongside the Pixel 9 sequence final yr, retrieves info from saved screenshots on the system and supplies the consumer with question responses. The report suggests it will not be obtainable on Google’s newest inexpensive handset.

One other notable omission is Name Notes, which is an AI-powered characteristic leveraging Gemini Nano to routinely generate summaries of calls. Because it requires audio processing, the characteristic will not be obtainable on the Pixel 9a. Whereas the aforementioned options could also be lacking, one that may certainly be obtainable on the handset is Recorder Summaries. Because the identify suggests, the characteristic transcribes audio recording and supplies a abstract of the identical.

Nonetheless, it is very important observe that not one of the options which might be reported to be lacking on the Google Pixel 9a have been formally confirmed as such by the corporate.