Google Assistant is the go-to virtual assistant for Android users, and now, perhaps even for Apple users, considering it can be triggered with a single button press on iPhone 15 Pro. Not only is it fast, but it remains more functional than rivals like Siri to this day. However, even the Assistant has limitations, especially when it cannot connect to the internet. This is why Google could be considering introducing another AI-powered assistant exclusively for its Pixel devices.
According to a new report by The Information, Google is working towards building a new AI Assistant, which could be called ‘Pixie.’ It is said to be a Pixel exclusive and can perform complex tasks that the Google Assistant simply isn’t capable of. This is because ‘Pixie’ could be based on Google’s new Gemini Nano large language model, which has already made its way to the Pixel 8 Pro smartphone in apps like the Recorder and Gboard.
Another thing worth noting here is the fact that Gemini Nano-powered features on the Pixel 8 Pro are all on-device—meaning you need not be connected to the internet to use them. This is where ‘Pixie’ may have a significant upper hand compared to the Google Assistant, as it may be able to execute on-device tasks without having access to network.
It isn’t exactly clear which Pixel models could get this new assistant, but the report does add that we may see Pixie coming to the Pixel 9 series when it releases next year. Google typically released its new flagships in October every year, so it could be a long wait before we finally see this alleged assistant out in the open.
That said, Google has chosen to reserve many of its new AI-powered features, such as Summarize in the Recorder app, and Smart Reply for Gboard, to the Pixel 8 Pro, not releasing them for the vanilla Pixel 8. So, could the new assistant be exclusive to the Pixel 9 Pro?
