AI smartphones, Artificial intelligence has been utilized on phones for a while, but the recent explosion of features has thrust it into the spotlight.
Whereas Siri and Google Assistant rely only on your speech, new smartphones now come loaded with sophisticated software that has the potential to revolutionize how you use your phone.
It’s gotten to the stage where AI might play a significant influence in determining which phone to purchase. All phones have some type of AI, but these are the ones that employ it the most effectively.
Recent flagship Samsung phones
Samsung was one of the first firms to prioritize artificial intelligence in its smartphones. This was previously limited to the Galaxy S24 line, however it has now been expanded to include many older flagships.
touts a variety of features as part of its selling pitch, demonstrating how seriously the new software capabilities are treated.
Circle to Search is one of the most helpful AI tools, as it allows you to draw a circle around anything on the screen (with your finger or the S Pen, depending on the device), and the subject will be promptly searched up on Google so you can learn more about it.
Another tiny gem is Live Translation, which automatically (and in real time) translates voices from different languages into your mother tongue. It also includes a written transcription. Essentially, it’s the Universal Translator from Star Trek; when you speak over the phone, the recipient hears your words in their language, and when you answer, you hear your language instead. Crazy stuff.
Transcript Assist, which uses similar technology, can convert your audio recordings into text documents, potentially saving you time while transcribing interviews, meetings, or presentations. Where was this 20 years ago, when I first started as a journalist?
Chat Assist maintains this feel by allowing you to adjust the tone of emails and messages to make them more informal or professional. It can also summarize web pages and translate the findings into 35 languages.
AI Photo Editing is something you might have seen in a Google Pixel commercial, but Samsung’s approach is much more remarkable. Generative Photo Editing allows you to fill in the gaps in an image if you wish to transfer a subject to a different portion of the photo. It can also produce additional frames in video footage, allowing you to convert any conventional video you’ve recorded into slow-motion.
One thing to keep in mind is that the Samsung terms and conditions state that the AI functions are free until the end of 2025, but it’s unclear whether the firm would charge for them beyond that.
Recent Google Pixel phones
Google Pixel phones are well-known for their cameras, so it’s no surprise that many of the primary AI capabilities in the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are focused on images and audio.
The Magic Eraser is one of the most well-known tools on Pixels. This is an intelligent AI-powered picture editing suite that allows you to remove objects or people from the background, modify the lighting, and relocate the subject to a new section of the image (the background is automatically filled).
Another useful function is greatest capture, which allows you to capture many images of individuals and then choose the greatest facial expressions from the various selections before combining them into a single photograph. However, it is also a contentious one.
On the video side, Audio Magic Eraser can erase the sounds of automobiles, wind, and other background noises that may otherwise degrade your movie.
You also get the Circle to Search function, as seen on the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, as well as a Summarise tool in Recorder that can show you the highlights of a recorded meeting, all of which is done offline thanks to the device’s Gemini Nano AI. There’s also Call Screen, which functions as your personal secretary and speaks with a caller on your behalf, live transcribing what they say so you can decide whether or not to accept the call.
Live Translate is extremely useful for travelers since it can instantaneously translate spoken words, text, or signs from one language to another. Of course, you still have the Google Assistant to help you with your inquiries and accomplish basic tasks through voice commands.
