Google has quietly drawn a new line under Android AI features: if a phone wants Gemini Intelligence, it needs at least 12 GB of RAM, a flagship-class chip that meets performance standards, and support for the AICore system service platform. That instantly rules out most midrange and budget Android phones, which is a polite way of saying this feature is headed straight for the expensive end of the market first.
The first devices set to get Gemini Intelligence are Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Flip8. Google Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S26 are also slated to receive the update this summer, giving the company a neat showcase of the kind of hardware it wants Gemini Intelligence attached to.
Gemini Intelligence is Google’s latest Android AI bundle, but the real hook is not chatbots answering questions. It is action: the system is designed to carry out tasks inside apps, from placing store orders to booking classes or building a shopping cart from a screenshot. That’s the sort of feature set that sounds futuristic until you remember it also sounds computationally hungry.
What Gemini Intelligence can do
- Answer questions through Gemini’s AI tools
- Automate actions inside apps
- Place orders in stores
- Book classes or appointments
- Build a shopping cart from a screenshot of a list
- Let users monitor the process and confirm the final payment step
Why Google is tightening the hardware floor
This is also a classic platform move: the smartest features arrive first on premium devices, then become a selling point for the next wave of upgrades. Apple has been doing its own version of that with on-device AI requirements, and Google is now making sure Android’s newest assistant experience does not limp along on aging hardware.
The upside for Google is obvious. A stricter spec sheet makes Gemini Intelligence look faster, more reliable, and less embarrassing in demos. The downside is just as obvious: if your phone does not have 12 GB of RAM, you are not part of the party.
Galaxy Z Fold8, Galaxy Z Flip8 and Pixel 10 support
The rollout path suggests Google and Samsung want to use their newest flagships as proof that the feature works. Expect every other Android maker to watch closely, because once this becomes a headline feature, ”AI phone” will stop being a buzzword and start being a spec-sheet battle over memory, chips, and support.