In a bold move, Samsung has introduced its latest flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra, heralding what the Korean tech giant describes as a "new era of mobile."
Set to hit the shelves on January 31, these devices boast an array of innovative AI-powered features, positioning Samsung at the forefront of the rapidly evolving smartphone landscape.
At the core of the Galaxy S24 range is what Samsung calls Galaxy AI, a suite of artificial intelligence tools designed to elevate the user experience.
These tools include a real-time translation feature for voice calls and texts, a Chat Assist tool for suggesting the appropriate tone in messages, and note and transcription tools capable of transcribing conversations, translating them, and summarizing them into bullet points.
One standout feature is the incorporation of Google's Circle to Search functionality, allowing users to circle, highlight, or tap on anything displayed on their screens, triggering a web search on the selected point of interest. This feature, initially exclusive to the S24 range and Google's flagship Pixel 8 phones, can be utilized within any app running on the phone.
The AI enhancements extend to the camera, introducing new editing tools that enable users to recompose images and utilize generative AI to fill in gaps when subjects in photos are moved. Importantly, many of these AI features operate on-device, minimizing reliance on the cloud and ensuring accessibility even without an internet connection, thereby prioritizing user data privacy.
James Kitto, Vice President and Head of MX Division at Samsung Electronics UK, emphasized the company's unique ability to deliver AI solutions at a scale unmatched by competitors.
He sees the smartphone as a pivotal entry point into the realm of AI, offering consumers significant productivity and creativity benefits.
Industry analyst Ben Wood, Chief Analyst at CCS Insight, sees this launch as marking the "dawn of the consumerisation of AI in smartphones," a trend expected to be embraced by other smartphone makers, including Apple. As incremental hardware updates lead to slowed sales, Samsung is betting on AI-powered features to reignite consumer interest.
