Pixel Screenshots no longer exclusively uses on-device AI
9to5 Google 2026-06-17 22:10:15
Context: Google's Pixel Screenshots feature is shifting from exclusively using on-device AI to also leveraging cloud processing, as part of an update to version 1.26.134.11. This change aims to enhance the functionality of Pixel Screenshots, allowing users to get more information from their screenshots. The update is part of a broader effort to integrate Google's Private AI Compute technology.
Key Facts
- The Pixel Screenshots feature, with the update to version 1.26.134.11, now processes information in a secure, isolated environment on the device or in the cloud, rather than exclusively on-device.
- The update changes the "Search your screenshots with on-device AI" preference to "Search your screenshots with AI," with a description indicating that data is protected in a secure environment on the device or in the cloud.
- Google's Private AI Compute technology, announced in November, utilizes an end-to-end stack, including Tensor Processing Units and Titanium Intelligence Enclaves, to provide secure and private AI experiences in the cloud.
- The shift to cloud processing for Pixel Screenshots is intended to "help you get even more from your screenshots," although specific details on the enhancements are not provided.
- Despite the move to cloud processing, Pixel Screenshots still leverages on-device models, as evidenced by the ability to manually process a screenshot when the phone is not connected to the internet.