The Google Pixel 8 disappoints fans due to its inability to support artificial intelligence. The reason lies in the device's hardware.

Last month, Google announced a new strategy regarding the models in the Pixel 8 lineup, referring to the base version and the Pro model. In terms of hardware, the two devices are very similar, however, only the Pro model could support the power and weight of Google's Gemini artificial intelligence. This feature immediately raised strong concerns among users who believed that the Pixel 8 was a device focused on AI. This difference contradicted what were supposed to be the main specifications of Google's smartphones.

The company then changed its mind by creating a variant of Gemini specifically called Gemini Nano, which would then be integrated through the Android update expected in June within the standard Pixel 8. However, while the AI in the Pro model is usable by all smartphone owners, for the Pixel 8, Gemini Nano will only be available for developers. Not all users will, therefore, have the opportunity to fully experience AI technology on their smartphone as promised.

RAM Issues: Memory too limited for the Pixel 8

Why have these problems arisen? Seang Chau, vice president of software for devices and services at Google, explained that the Pro smartphone, with its 12GB of RAM, was the ideal device to experiment with Gemini Nano. The Pixel 8, on the other hand, with only 8GB of RAM, probably would not have been able to guarantee the same quality of experience to users without compromising the device's performance.

Google's desire to expand the use and enjoyment of artificial intelligence through its smartphones clashes with the capabilities of the RAM memory of its devices. Such a large language model like Gemini Nano, considering the current threshold of 8GB of RAM for the Pixel 8, could foresee a rethinking of smartphone projects in the future. The same situation occurred for Samsung's Galaxy S24, whose base version is characterized by the same RAM capacity.