The generative AI boom has continued to gather momentum in 2024, with smartphones becoming a critical battleground for the technology’s evolution. Major players like Samsung, Google, and Apple are racing to integrate AI tools into their devices, bringing cutting-edge features to the palm of users’ hands.
As AI continues to transform industries, one major hurdle has been ensuring these advanced tools reach a wide audience. Building AI features into smartphones, which people use daily, has become the key strategy for getting generative AI into as many hands as possible. With more people using smartphones, the tech giants aim to integrate AI in ways that enhance usability, productivity, and convenience.
Samsung’s Early Lead with Galaxy AI
Samsung took the lead in January with the launch of its Galaxy AI suite, integrated into the new Galaxy S24 series. This suite included a variety of AI-powered tools designed to make users’ lives easier. The features ranged from text editing and rewriting based on different themes or moods, to advanced photo editing, transcription, and translation of audio or phone calls. One particularly impressive feature allowed users to search Google simply by drawing a circle around an object on their screen.
Samsung’s AI tools weren’t limited to just the S24; by mid-year, the company expanded these capabilities to its foldable devices. The results were striking: Samsung reported a more than 40% increase in customers switching from Apple iPhones to Samsung devices in the UK, thanks to the appeal of Galaxy AI.
Google’s Strategic Push for AI in the Pixel 9
By the summer of 2024, Google was gearing up to release its Pixel 9 series, bringing generative AI to its flagship smartphones. In a strategic move to stay ahead of Apple, Google brought the Pixel 9 launch forward, releasing it in August instead of the usual September or October slot. This allowed Google to get its AI-powered devices into consumers’ hands before Apple launched the iPhone 16 in September.
At the heart of Google’s AI pitch was its Gemini chatbot, which took center stage during the Pixel 9 announcement. Google emphasized how the new chips powering its devices, developed in collaboration with DeepMind, enabled these phones to run powerful AI models. This AI could greatly enhance the Google Assistant, improving how users interact with their devices and making Google search more intuitive by tapping into its vast database of information.
Apple’s Cautious Yet Robust AI Approach
In June, Apple previewed its new Apple Intelligence tools, offering a more cautious yet impactful entry into the generative AI space. These tools, much like those from Samsung and Google, were designed to help users edit text, transcribe conversations, and enhance or generate new images. Apple also promised significant upgrades to Siri, its virtual assistant, making it more intuitive and capable of understanding context better than ever.
Perhaps the most notable aspect of Apple’s approach was its collaboration with OpenAI, integrating ChatGPT directly into Apple devices. This partnership enabled users to process complex queries that were better suited to ChatGPT’s capabilities. On top of this, Apple emphasized Private Cloud Compute, a privacy-focused feature that ensures particularly sensitive user data is processed securely and is never stored.
While Samsung and Google rolled out their AI features quickly, Apple has adopted a more measured approach, limiting its availability to a select number of countries for now. This deliberate rollout gives Apple the opportunity to refine its technology before expanding it globally.
The Global Impact of AI Integration on Smartphones
As 2024 draws to a close, the three tech giants now offer flagship smartphones equipped with advanced AI tools. For many users, this marks the first time they’ve had direct access to generative AI on their devices. It’s clear that AI is no longer a futuristic concept but a reality that’s shaping how we interact with technology.
This rush to bring AI to the masses is having ripple effects across the industry. In December, OpenAI made waves by launching a ChatGPT version accessible via WhatsApp, enabling anyone worldwide to interact with the AI chatbot without needing to download a dedicated app or create an OpenAI account. This accessibility shows the growing trend of integrating AI into everyday platforms, reaching users regardless of their technical background.
What’s Next for Generative AI?
Looking ahead to 2025, it’s almost certain that if you haven’t yet experienced generative AI, you soon will. Whether you’re using a Samsung, Google, or Apple device, the future of smartphones is deeply intertwined with AI. From enhancing productivity to transforming creative processes, the potential for generative AI in the palm of your hand is just beginning to be realized.
With more developers and tech companies focusing on making AI tools accessible to a broader audience, the next few years promise even more innovation. As AI continues to evolve and improve, it seems likely that by 2025, AI-powered tools will be as ubiquitous as the smartphones themselves.