The latest lineup, the Galaxy S24 series, introduces a range of AI functionalities to Samsung’s One Interface Android skin, with the potential for these features to extend to older devices. Despite this, Samsung clarified in a recent interview that Galaxy AI will not be compatible with any devices released before 2023, emphasizing that this limitation is unrelated to hardware specifications.
The new “Galaxy AI” features integrated into the Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra include various AI-driven capabilities. These encompass tasks such as translating or generating alternative versions of chat dialogues, transcribing and translating recorded speech, generating summaries from notes, and utilizing relational AI for enhanced photo editing. Notably, one standout feature enables real-time translation of phone calls directly on the device.
During the launch event, Samsung confirmed that Galaxy AI will extend to some older models, including the S23 Cosmos lineup and the S9 Galaxy Button series, among others. However, devices released before 2023, such as the Galaxy S22 series, Fold 4, and Flip 4, are notably absent from the list of compatible devices. Samsung has indicated that this situation is unlikely to change in the near future, as conveyed in discussions with TechRadar.
In a statement, Samsung’s Head of Customer Experience, Patrick Chomet, elucidated that Galaxy AI will not be rolled out to devices predating the S23 Cosmos series, at least for the time being. Chomet emphasized the importance of aligning AI capabilities with mobile performance, particularly CPU and GPU capabilities, to ensure optimal user experiences. The gradual deployment strategy aims to gauge user interaction with these features and their impact on device and cloud resources before expanding to additional models.
While Samsung’s rationale for restricting Galaxy AI to newer devices ostensibly revolves around performance considerations, Chomet’s statement hints at broader implications. The decision to limit these features to last-generation devices, despite comparable hardware capabilities, suggests additional factors at play beyond hardware constraints.
The financial aspect likely plays a significant role in this strategic move by Samsung. While some Galaxy AI functions operate locally on the device, others, especially those integrated with Google’s Gemini versions, require substantial backend cloud infrastructure, incurring significant costs. Although Samsung has hinted at the possibility of introducing paid features in the future, no definitive timeline has been provided. The reference to cloud resource impact implies a cautious approach to managing the associated costs and scalability challenges.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 series is now available for pre-order starting at \(799, offering incentives such as enhanced trade-in values up to \)750, doubled storage capacity, and bonus credits of up to \(150. Exclusive links provided offer additional savings of \)50 on purchases made through Samsung.com.
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