Google Has Subtly Rolled Out An App That Lets Users Download And Execute AI Models On Their Own Devices

Last week, Google quietly launched an app that enables users to run various open-source AI models from the Hugging Face platform directly on their smartphones.

Named  Google AI Edge Gallery, the app is currently available on Android, with an iOS version on the way. It lets users browse, download, and run supported models that can generate images, answer questions, write or edit code, and more — all offline, using the device’s built-in processor.

Cloud-based AI models are typically more powerful than those running locally, but they come with trade-offs. Some users may be concerned about sharing personal or sensitive data with remote servers, or prefer access to AI models without relying on Wi-Fi or mobile networks.

Early Access to On-Device AI Tools and Customizable Prompts

Google AI Edge Gallery—described by the company as an “experimental Alpha release”—is available for download on GitHub, with setup instructions provided. The app’s main screen features shortcuts to AI functions like “Ask Image” and “AI Chat.” Selecting a function displays a list of compatible models, including Google’s Gemma 3n.

The app also includes a “Prompt Lab,” which allows users to perform single-step tasks such as text summarization and rewriting. This feature offers preset task templates and adjustable settings to customize model behavior.

Google cautions that performance may differ depending on your device. Newer phones with stronger hardware will naturally handle models more efficiently, but model size also plays a role — larger models typically take longer to complete tasks like image-based question answering compared to smaller ones.

The company is encouraging developers to share feedback on the Google AI Edge Gallery experience. The app is released under the Apache 2.0 license, allowing for broad usage, including commercial applications, with minimal restrictions.

Read the original article on: TechCrunch

Read more: YouTube Will Soon let Viewers use Google Lens to Search Items in Shorts