I tried Google’s secret, open source, offline AI app to see if it’s better than Gemini

Get a glimpse of Google's offline AI future.

Jun 12, 2025 - 20:40

I tried Google’s secret, open source, offline AI app to see if it’s better than Gemini

Google has pumped out so many AI products in recent years that I’d need my fingers, toes, and the digits of several other people to keep count. Its current public-facing headliner is Gemini, which also doubles as its virtual assistant on its myriad products. But, if you’re willing to lift its development rock to peek at the creepy crawlies beneath, you’ll find AI Edge Gallery.

Hidden away on GitHub — where few Google-made products have ever resided — AI Edge Gallery gives early adopters a taste of fully downloaded AI models that can be run entirely on the phone. To uncover why Google banished this app beyond the Play Store and what it can actually do, I took up my Pixel and downloaded it. Here’s what I discovered.