Smartphones are expected to become more intelligent in 2021 as advancements in artificial intelligence are integrated into the devices that are constantly by people’s side.

On Wednesday, Samsung, the primary competitor of Apple and its iPhone, showcased the evolution of smartphones through the release of the new flagship Galaxy models.

The selling point of the Galaxy S24 series centers on a variety of fresh capabilities driven by artificial intelligence.

In a San Jose, California arena typically used for hockey games and concerts, TM Roh, the president of Samsung’s mobile experience division, promised to a gathered audience that they will revolutionize the technology scene and eliminate hindrances, allowing individuals to reach their full potential.

In addition to showcasing Samsung’s AI developments, the Galaxy S24 collection will include cutting-edge advancements from Google.

The advancements in technology will result in a higher cost for Samsung’s flagship device, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which will be sold for $1,300 – an increase of $100 or 8% compared to the previous year’s model. This price hike is similar to what Apple did with their top-tier iPhone 15 Pro Max, which was launched in September.

Samsung is maintaining the prices for the Galaxy S24 Plus and the basic Galaxy S24 at $1,000 and $800 respectively.

The upcoming release of the Galaxy phones on Jan. 31 will feature a significant increase in AI capabilities. This includes a new function that allows real-time translation during phone calls in 13 languages and 17 dialects. Additionally, the Galaxy S24 series will incorporate Google’s “Circle To Search” feature, which allows users to use a digital stylus or finger to highlight text, photos, or videos for quick search results.

The latest Galaxy smartphones will offer convenient options for editing the look and position of certain elements within photos captured by the camera. This feature has the potential to improve the quality of pictures and also facilitate the production of deceptive images.

Last autumn, Google began a campaign to incorporate more AI into its newest Pixel smartphones, such as the feature to modify photo appearances. This initiative was further advanced by the introduction of project Gemini at the end of last year, representing Google’s latest technological advancement. Additionally, Google is introducing the Circle To Search feature to its latest models, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, and intends to make it available to other devices running on its Android software by the end of this year.

In addition to launching Circle To Search, Google is utilizing AI technology to allow users of their iPhone and Android mobile app to utilize their camera to obtain information about captured objects. While Google is confident that these features will enhance search results, they have also acknowledged the potential for errors.

Similar to most phone makers except for Apple, Samsung utilizes Google’s Android operating system. This has resulted in the two companies having shared interests, despite being rivals in the mobile device market.

According to Forrester Research analyst Thomas Husson, Apple is anticipated to incorporate additional artificial intelligence features into their upcoming September release of iPhones. However, Samsung already has a head start in making this technology more widespread, giving them a competitive advantage. Despite losing its title as the world’s top smartphone seller to Apple last year, market research firm International Data Corp reports that Samsung could use this edge to their benefit.

Husson stated that Samsung’s marketing hurdle is to effectively showcase the technology in a way that astonishes consumers with seemingly magical and imperceptible experiences.

The use of AI in smartphones is growing, following the introduction of ChatGPT by OpenAI, a startup supported by Microsoft. This technology allows for the quick creation of stories, memos, videos, and drawings upon request.

Todd Lohr, the U.S. technology consulting leader for KPMG, forecasts that as AI becomes more integrated into smartphones, it will have significant impacts on productivity, creativity, and privacy.

According to Lohr, smartphones are becoming smarter with the incorporation of intelligence. In the future, it may be possible for smartphones to listen to a user’s conversations throughout the day and provide a summary at the end. However, this raises questions about privacy and ownership of data if everyone’s device is constantly listening.

Unfortunately, AI has not reached a level of sophistication to fully address privacy concerns. However, Samsung is already taking steps to alleviate worries related to the introduction of new technology in the Galaxy S24 series. The company’s executives are reassuring users that the AI capabilities can remain on the device, although certain apps may require access to data centers in the virtual cloud.

Samsung also guarantees that their “Samsung Knox” security will safeguard users’ on-device activity.

Michael Kokotajlo, KPMG’s partner for digital transformation in the telecommunications industry, believes that Samsung and other smartphone companies are moving towards providing people with an “AI assistant in their pockets”. He predicts that this concept will be embraced more easily by younger generations who have grown up in the age of mobile computing.

Kokotajlo stated that Millennials and Gen Z will likely seek out AI capabilities more readily, as they have less worry about privacy and security. However, older generations may have reservations about these aspects or how to effectively utilize them.

Source: wral.com