With a myriad ofGemini - power AI feature , the Pixel 9 is practically a “ Gemini phone ” as MKBHD mentions in his review . While Google is pushing for more on - gadget AI , most of these AI features still expect an internet connection . So when you pink that push for some AI magic , data is send to and from Google ’s cloud waiter where the sound lifting happens . It ’s like outsource the AI tasks rather of solely relying on the Tensor G4 crisp .
So , do Pixel 9 AI characteristic require an internet connexion ? loosely , yes . But do all of them ? No . I ’ll explain .
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Pixel AI Features That Need You to Be Online
For starters , theGemini AI Assistantrequires an cyberspace connection to make for . Yes , unlike Apple ’s Siri or even the Google Assistant , where you could do a lot of things offline , neither the Gemini Assistant nor itsGemini Livefeature will work without cyberspace connectivity .
I ’m hoping Google will eventually reserve it to do at least a few things offline , like opening apps , turning on the flashlight , or toggle your headphone configurations , but that ’s not presently potential .
With the Pixel 9 , Google introduced a new Pixel Studio app that use AI to create image from textual matter prompts . While it utilizes on - gimmick processing , it also swear on Google ’s cloud - ground Imagen 3 for generating images , thus require an net connection . The app simply wo n’t work without it .
Apple AI ’s image generator , on the other hand , will be entirely on - equipment . That makes it much faster and privateness - friendly compared to Google ’s execution .
Night Sight Video on Pixel Pro phones is powered by the same feature , you ’ll want to be online for that as well .
Pixel 9 AI Features That Don’t Need the Cloud
Pixel 9 comes with a brand - newScreenshots appthat run down all your screenshots , understands what ’s in them , and bring in it soft to organize and hark back information . For example , the other day I took a screenshot of Geekbench bench mark I ran on the Pixel 9 , and it cleverly fetched and prepared a bank note with all the score . This feature works completely on - twist .
Beyond screenshot management , the Pixel 9 boast several other impressive on - gimmick AI features like theMagic Eraserwhich lets you remove unwanted objects or people from photos , seamlessly filling in the space . The popularAdd Mefeature too does n’t involve it for obvious reasons .
The new Zoom Enhancer feature can also work offline , enhancing details in picture when you pinch to whizz along in . Think of it as Pixel ’s Super Res Zoom , but it work after you ’ve take the photo . Audio Magic Eraser , which removes unwanted disturbance from video , is another survive on - twist feature .
Finally , with Call Notes , your Pixel 9 can now automatically immortalize any calls on your gimmick and then show you a transcript and summary of the conversation second after you end the call . This works completely on - equipment , and no information leaves your twist .
On-Device vs. Cloud Processing: Why it Matters?
With on - gadget processing , all your AI computation and processing are done within the gadget . No datum leaves your headphone . Since there ’s no pauperization for information transferral to and from the cloud , tasks like generating or editing exposure / videos using AI take to the woods much faster . It ’s also more secrecy - friendly and work out everywhere , even when you do n’t have Wi - Fi or mobile data .
However , AI requires a mass of computational power , and the caliber of its output signal is limited by how potent the machine is . This is why the newApple Intelligence is only uncommitted on the iPhone 15 Pros , power by the A17 Pro chipset , and not on miserable - end model .
Cloud processing mean you virtually have access to unlimited computational power . resource can be easily scaled up when needed , and AI models can be updated and improved more oft without the need for equipment - storey updates .
However , your datum is sent to the cloud for processing and then downloaded back after . This can be concerning for your private data . It ’ll also deplete a lot of your internet bandwidth and will work incredibly slowly when you do n’t have in high spirits - pep pill connectivity . The features are simply unuseable offline .
Why Connect to the Internet After All?
As was the lawsuit with the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro , most of the AI features release this year with the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro do n’t actually lam completely on - twist , although that has been a term highlighted in bits and pieces . I see no straightforward clarity from Google directly on which features work entirely offline and which ones do n’t .
That , I feel , is partly because the newTensor G4 is a small-scale upgradethan what everyone presumed it to be . It ’s more or less a Tensor G3 with one core less , slightly right operation and efficiency . Google even used the same Tensor Processing Unit as last yr , with enhanced Gemini Nano being the only new affair here .
Considering the Tensor G4 is n’t inherently as powerful or even close in processing king as its counterparts like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 , Apple A17 Pro , oreven the Exynos 2400 , it ’s clever of Google to offload most of the load to its cloud server .
Google is a cloud and software system company more than it is a ironware company , after all , and this overture suit its direction easily . But I wish to see more completely on - machine AI feature as the whole ‘ AI on phone ’ thing becomes more threadbare .
