With the release of the Galaxy S24 series, Samsung is placing a significant emphasis on generative AI, the type of artificial intelligence that underpins ChatGPT and has been a topic of great interest in the tech industry since the popular chatbot’s debut in late 2022. This focus has led to the development of a new set of features known as Galaxy AI, which encompasses a range of functionalities such as photo editing tools for manipulating objects within images and real-time language translation during calls. These innovations will first debut on the new Galaxy S24 lineup before extending to the Galaxy S23 series.
Part of the Samsung Event coverage by CNET, this narrative delves into the advancements surrounding Samsung’s key products.
At present, Galaxy AI comprises a selection of tools and features primarily geared towards enhancing communication, productivity, and content creation. However, according to Won-Joon Choi, the executive vice president and head of the research and development office for Samsung’s mobile experience business, this represents just the initial phase. In an interview with CNET prior to Samsung’s Unpacked event on Jan. 17, Choi shared that Galaxy AI will be integrated across various devices, spanning from foldable phones to wearables.
Choi emphasized, “Galaxy S24 is merely a specific bar-type smartphone. We have a diverse array of form factors, so we plan to expand our Galaxy AI across multiple formats, including tablets, foldables, and various others.”
The functionality of Galaxy AI draws parallels to generative AI-powered features introduced by companies like Microsoft and Google over the past year, albeit tailored specifically for Samsung smartphones. The Galaxy S24 will boast capabilities such as rephrasing text messages before sending them, translating text messages and documents within Samsung’s Note app, facilitating real-time language interpretation during phone calls, completing edited image sections, and identifying speakers in audio transcriptions, among other functions.
Certain features may bear resemblance to tools previously introduced by Google on the Pixel 8 series and its Messages app, reflecting a deliberate strategy. Collaboration between Samsung and Google on specific Galaxy AI features, such as Circle to Search—enabling users to initiate a Google search by circling an object in a photo—underscores this partnership.
The joint efforts of Samsung and Google signal a trend where such features are becoming standard in new smartphones. For Samsung, Galaxy AI serves as a foundational platform for future developments.
While specifics regarding forthcoming Galaxy AI features for the Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip foldables, Galaxy Tab tablets, and Galaxy Watch wearables were not disclosed by Choi, he indicated that these features would be tailored to each device’s unique characteristics rather than being direct replicas of the Galaxy S24’s offerings.
The ongoing evolution of Bixby, Samsung’s voice-enabled virtual assistant introduced in 2017, is not expected to be supplanted by Galaxy AI. Instead, Choi envisions leveraging generative AI to enhance Bixby’s capabilities, recognizing the dominance of Google Assistant, Apple’s Siri, and Amazon’s Alexa in the voice assistant landscape.
As AI continues to play a pivotal role in smartphones, with applications ranging from portrait mode photography to language translation, Galaxy AI exemplifies tech giants’ efforts to empower users with advanced tools rather than relegating AI to a background function.
Live Translate, a feature on the Galaxy S24 series, enables real-time language translation during calls in 13 languages, exemplifying the tangible impact of generative AI on user experiences.
Looking ahead, the integration of generative AI into smartphone software and operating systems is poised to reshape the mobile landscape, offering users enhanced capabilities and novel experiences.
