Apple surpassed Samsung in smartphone shipments for 2023, marking the first time since 2010 that Apple has outperformed Samsung, as there is a growing demand for premium devices, a market segment where Apple has a dominant position. In response, Samsung is integrating various artificial intelligence (AI) features into its premium Galaxy S24 models as part of its strategy to attract buyers.
The new Galaxy S24 phones will introduce two-way voice translation in real-time during live phone calls conducted in different languages, making it the first-ever smartphone to offer this capability. The on-device AI function, available in 13 languages, utilizes Samsung’s generative AI training. Additional features include a “circle-to-search” function that allows users to circle any part of an image on the screen to search it in Google, AI translation, customizable message tones for casual, formal, business, or social media, AI summaries and translations of voice recordings, “generative editing” of photos, and a feature that turns real-time videos into slow-motion by filling in non-existent frames with AI.
On-device AI involves generative AI functions downloaded to each user’s device after training, eliminating the need to connect to the cloud. Qualcomm and Samsung advocate on-device AI as a more secure option for personal information, as it doesn’t require sending data to the cloud.
Canalys predicts that by 2027, 45% of smartphones shipped will be AI-capable, a significant increase from the 5% expected in 2024. Although the impact on immediate smartphone purchases may be limited, the long-term influence of generative AI on devices is anticipated to enhance the overall user experience.
The Galaxy S24 series is set to be available from January 31, with the base Galaxy S24 priced from $799 in the United States. The higher-specification versions, S24 Plus and S24 Ultra, will be priced from $999 and $1,299, respectively, with Samsung maintaining the prices of the base model and Plus while increasing the Ultra by $100 compared to the previous year.