Google launches new AI boost for millions of older Android phones

Following Samsung’s surprise AI announcement, Google is now rolling out the Gemini app to more Android users.

When the company first announced the Gemini app for Android earlier this year, it said it would only be for devices running Android 12 and later. But now the latest version of Gemini for Android (v1.0.626720042) can be installed via the Play Store for older devices running Android 10 and Android 11.

Spotted on Twitter/X by https://twitter.com/isumantadas/status/1783528592028418260tests by https://twitter.com/ArtemR/status/1783529486069444833 Since Android Font And 9To5Google show that Gemini does indeed work on phones running Android 10 and 11, and that the experience is just as functional as it would be on a newer handset.

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This is an important move on Google’s part, especially because both operating systems are still very popular. Android 10 and 11 currently represent 8.82% and 16.57% of the global Android install base, respectively. That’s millions of devices that now have access to Google’s latest AI technology.

This could also be good news for users of older Pixel phones and devices from other Android brands. Will more handsets enable Circle to Search at some point? Or other AI-based features exclusive to the Pixel? Gemini’s support page states that a device running the app needs 4 GB of RAM to function properly:a lot devices fall into this category. It will be interesting to see how far Google can push Gemini and Gemini-related tools towards phones that are deeply rooted in the Android universe.

Google and Samsung surprised users by rolling out big AI tools to older phones. Recently, Samsung announced that its Galaxy S23 lineup will be updated with Live Translate, Circle to Search, Note Assist, generative image editing, and a few other AI features. A month later, it announced that the Galaxy S22 series would get the same update.

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Just four months ago, these tools were exclusive to the Galaxy S24. Google also regularly updates older devices with new features through its Feature Drop program. There is therefore a precedent here which could bear more fruit in the future. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, Google CEO Sundar Pichai already declared that we were in the “Age of Gemini” back in January.

Google has not yet confirmed the Gemini update. But I imagine the company will hold on until next month’s I/O conference, where we can expect a series of Gemini announcements.