The Google Pixel 8 Pro just got a big AI update – the AI Core app explained
If you know anything about the Google Pixel 8 and the Google Pixel 8 Pro, you know that they have AI features at the forefront, and the Pro model has now received its first update to the integrated AI Core app on board the phone .
The update was noticed by 9to5Google, and it’s exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro for now – although other Pixel devices have a placeholder for the AI Core app. This makes us think the Pixel 8 and other handsets could get it eventually. If you have a Pixel 8 Pro, the update will be downloaded for you automatically.
This isn’t an app in the traditional sense of the word, and you won’t see an icon for it in your app drawer. It’s more of a background service that works behind the scenes and helps any app that needs to leverage the power of artificial intelligence.
Mysteriously, the Google Play Store listing that 9to5Google linked to is now gone, but it was previously stated that AI Core “powers features on Android and powers apps with the latest AI models.”
What does AI Core actually do?
When it comes to what AI Core actually does, with no official Google rule on the matter, we can’t be entirely sure. We have a few clues, though: During the launch event, Google talked about the Pixel 8 Pro having its own generative AI model on board, making features like Magic Eraser in Google Photos work faster.
Presumably, AI Core will help maintain and improve that model, potentially powering features that Google has advertised as coming soon. such as Zoom Enhancement. Earlier this month, Android Police noted the arrival of AI Core in the Google Play Store, possibly to lay the foundation for future AI features.
AI features are now standard on the best smartphones, but depending on the phone, a certain percentage of this AI work will be offloaded to the cloud. AI Core will likely manage the local AI processing that the Pixel 8 Pro and other phones can do, meaning more up-to-date models and faster response times. This could be an approach we’ll soon see on the Samsung Galaxy S24, which could be branded as its first ‘AI phone’.
So basically it’s a matter of waiting for AI Core – even if Reddit users are already discussing which functions seem to be faster. Since the Play Store listing has now disappeared, it’s possible that Google will want to make a proper announcement about AI Core, and what exactly it does, in due course.