What is FunctionGemma used for?

It is used to turn human language (like "turn on the kitchen lights") into code that computers can understand and execute. It is designed to control software and devices rather than just talking to you.

Is FunctionGemma a chatbot?

No. Google explicitly states it is not intended for direct dialogue. Its purpose is to output structured data (like JSON) to trigger functions, not to have a conversation.

Can I run it on my phone?

Yes. Because it is a tiny 270M parameter model, it can run locally on modern smartphones (like the Pixel 8 or iPhone 15 Pro) with high speed and low battery usage.

How does it compare to Gemini?

Gemini is a large, general-purpose model that lives in the cloud. FunctionGemma is a tiny, specialized model that lives on your device. FunctionGemma handles the simple stuff instantly and lets Gemini handle the hard stuff.

Yes, it is an open model available for free download on platforms like Hugging Face and Kaggle.

Function Gemma

A specialized, lightweight model for on-device function calling.

From Google

Founder: Google DeepMind

Text Generator

18 Dec 2025

100K+

Free

Pricing Model

Free

Starting Price

$0/Month

About This AI

FunctionGemma is a 270 million parameter open model based on the Gemma 3 architecture, fine-tuned specifically for translating natural language into structured function calls (JSON/API actions).

Designed for edge deployment, it acts as a private, offline “traffic controller” that can execute local tasks instantly or route complex queries to larger cloud models. It is optimized for low-latency environments like smartphones and IoT devices.

Coding Conversation LLM

Pricing

Pricing Model

Free

Starting Price

$0/Month

Key Features

Ultra-Lightweight: Only 270M parameters, runnable on mobile phones and edge devices.
Explicitly trained to output structured code/JSON for API interaction, not for general chat.
Accuracy on specific tasks (like Mobile Actions) improves from 58% to 85% with fine-tuning.
Runs entirely locally, ensuring user privacy and zero latency.
Supported by Unsloth, Ollama, vLLM, and LiteRT-LM.

Pros

Extremely fast inference on consumer hardware (~50 tokens/s on phones).
Reduces cloud costs by handling simple tasks locally.
Enhances privacy by keeping data on the device.
Open weights allow for full customization.

Cons

Cannot handle open-ended conversation or creative writing; strictly for function execution.
As a 270M model, it lacks the broad world knowledge of larger LLMs.

Best for Smart home controllers, voice assistants in apps, IoT devices, and “agentic” workflows that require deterministic action taking.

FAQs

What is FunctionGemma used for?
It is used to turn human language (like “turn on the kitchen lights”) into code that computers can understand and execute. It is designed to control software and devices rather than just talking to you.
Is FunctionGemma a chatbot?
No. Google explicitly states it is not intended for direct dialogue. Its purpose is to output structured data (like JSON) to trigger functions, not to have a conversation.
Can I run it on my phone?
Yes. Because it is a tiny 270M parameter model, it can run locally on modern smartphones (like the Pixel 8 or iPhone 15 Pro) with high speed and low battery usage.
How does it compare to Gemini?
Gemini is a large, general-purpose model that lives in the cloud. FunctionGemma is a tiny, specialized model that lives on your device. FunctionGemma handles the simple stuff instantly and lets Gemini handle the hard stuff.
Is it free?
Yes, it is an open model available for free download on platforms like Hugging Face and Kaggle.