Google received quite a bit of criticism when it previously suggested that the Pixel 8 wouldn’t get a Gemini Nano, leaving the base smartphone without AI features on the device. However, the company recently backtracked on that decision, saying that it would be bringing AI features to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a after all. Now, reports indicate that the Gemini Nano could roll out to the Pixel 8 soon. The AI features themselves don’t appear to be available yet, but the option to enable them is, so it’s a good idea to lay the groundwork now before the features actually roll out.
How do I enable On-Device AI for the Google Pixel 8 with Gemini Nano?
While many updates for your device may automatically bring new features enabled by default, the Pixel 8’s Gemini Nano features need to be enabled. That’s because the features the Nano will enable aren’t technically enabled on the device’s chip yet. To get around this, Google has now added a toggle that turns on Gemini, but you’ll need to open up the Android AICore features on your phone to set it up.
Tap the build number seven times. You should see a pop-up saying that Developer Mode has been enabled.
If the switch is available on your phone, it should appear as an option in the list with the text Enable Gemini features on device.
