Google gave older Pixels a great AI feature. It was not originally supposed to be available

Almost a year after Google introduced AI weather summaries exclusively for the Pixel 9 series, it is gradually extending the same feature to older models. Owners of the Pixel 8 and 8a report that AI weather reports, previously unavailable to them, are starting to appear in their Pixel Weather app.

When Google introduced the redesigned Pixel Weather app last year, the AI Weather Reports feature was reserved only for the latest Pixel 9 series phones and subsequently for the Pixel 8 Pro. The main reason was sufficient RAM. However, now dozens of Pixel 8 and 8a users on Reddit confirm that the feature is starting to appear on their devices, indicating wider distribution to models with less RAM.

What can AI weather forecast actually do?

The feature itself remains unchanged from what was available on the Pixel 9 or Pixel 8 Pro since 2024. It provides a brief summary of current and future weather conditions, with a dropdown menu offering additional context and details. The feature is marked with a spark symbol, which Google uses to denote AI features.

Practically, it is a concise summary of data already available in the app’s daily or hourly forecast. Occasionally, the system also offers practical tips, such as a reminder to take an umbrella when it’s expected to rain. From a practical standpoint, it doesn’t bring significant new value; rather, it’s an alternative way of presenting the same information.

Gemini Nano is a prerequisite

If you own a Pixel 8 or Pixel 8a and want to use this feature, you must have Gemini Nano activated in Developer Settings. Gemini Nano is a local language model (LLM) that runs directly on the device and does not need to send data to the cloud. Google has kept it as an optional feature on phones with limited memory, which the user must activate themselves.

Google gave older Pixels a great AI feature. It was not originally supposed to be available Jakub Kárník News Jakub Kárník News

If the AI weather forecast does not appear after activating Gemini Nano, it is possible that the feature is still gradually rolling out to your device. In some cases, users first saw an empty space where the forecast should appear, and only then were prompted to update Gemini Nano.

Not all AI is created equal

It’s interesting that although Google labels the feature as AI, it’s actually more about smarter information formatting than true artificial intelligence. Most users who have tested the feature for a longer period agree that the benefit is not significant – primarily because the same information is available elsewhere in the app.

This is a similar trend to many other features that manufacturers have been labeling as “AI” in recent months – often it’s more of a marketing term than a revolution in device usage. On the other hand, for less tech-savvy users, a text summary might be more pleasant than having to interpret graphical forecasts.

Do you have a Pixel 8 or 8a? Are AI weather forecasts already showing up for you?