Subj : The Google Pixel 9as AI has a RAM problem
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Thu Mar 20 2025 11:45:08

The Google Pixel 9as AI has a RAM problem

Date:
Thu, 20 Mar 2025 11:31:00 +0000

Description:
The Google Pixel 9a runs Gemini Nano XXS, and that's just too small to cope 
with some of Google's AI features.

FULL STORY
======================================================================The 
Google Pixel 9a runs a worse Gemini Nano model than its siblings This limits 
some of its on-device AI capabilities There's not enough RAM in the phone to 
run a better Gemini model 

The Google Pixel 9a in many ways looks to be an impressive phone, but its 
launch hasnt gone as smoothly as Google might have hoped. First, sales of the 
phone were delayed due to a component quality issue , and now were learning 
that its AI capabilities arent quite as good as wed hoped and expected. 

You see, Google has confirmed to Ars Technica that the Pixel 9a uses Gemini 
Nano 1.0 XXS for on-device AI, rather than the Gemini Nano XS used by the 
rest of the Google Pixel 9 series. That XXS stands for extra extra small, so 
its a smaller model than the extra small one used by the rest of the Pixel 9 
line. 

Thats quite a big downgrade, as it means the Google Pixel 9a isnt capable of 
all the same AI things as its siblings. Notably, Gemini Nano XXS is 
text-only, which means that  since it cant process images  it cant run the 
likes of Pixel Screenshots (an app that creates a searchable database of the 
content in your screenshots). (Image credit: Google) 

The Google Pixel 9a also cant use Call Notes  which on other Pixel 9 models 
provides summaries of phone calls  as this requires audio processing skills 
that Gemini Nano XXS doesnt possess. 

Ars Technica notes though that summaries of recordings on the Recorder app 
will still work, as that app creates a text transcription without using AI, 
and then Gemini Nano XXS works on that text. 

And AI tasks that run in the cloud will still be present, as Gemini Nano XXS 
is just for on-device processing. In theory then Google could one day offer 
cloud processing for the above missing features to enable them here, but 
theres no indication that this will happen, and it would make these features 
less private than they are now. 

Even where Gemini Nano XXS does get the job done, it may be slower than 
Gemini Nano XS, as the Pixel 9a will only load it when needed, whereas the 
other Google Pixel 9 models run Gemini Nano XS in the background all the 
time. A RAM issue 

So this all sounds like quite a downgrade, but perhaps an unavoidable one, as 
the Google Pixel 9a only has 8GB of RAM, and according to Google theres at 
least 12GB needed to run Gemini Nano XS. Equipping this phone with an extra 
4GB would have likely pushed the price up, and made it less differentiated 
from the standard Pixel 9, so its understandable that Google made this 
compromise. 

As Ars Technica notes though, Google doesnt call out the missing features on 
the phone's product page, so its easy to imagine buyers simply assuming the 
Pixel 9a would have all the same AI capabilities as the Pixel 9. Its 
reminiscent of how Google doesnt always highlight when some Pixel features 
are only available in the US , and it can lead to disappointed buyers. 

So thats unfortunate. Still, from its flagship-level chipset to a new camera 
and a big battery, the Google Pixel 9a still has a lot going for it. Well let 
you know how well it all comes together once weve put the phone through a 
full review. You might also like Best Pixel phones : these are the Google 
phones to buy right now Google just launched the Pixel 9a  and I reckon it 
embarrasses the iPhone 16e Google Pixel 9 Pro review : the AI phone is here, 
but the future is not



======================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/phones/google-pixel-phones/the-google-pixel-9as-ai-h
as-a-ram-problem


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