TL;DR:
- Generative AI is becoming a prominent feature in smartphones.
- Google and Samsung lead the way with Google Pixel 8, 8 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S24.
- Apple is expected to follow suit in 2024.
- Analysts project rapid adoption of generative AI smartphones.
- The exact impact of generative AI on user experiences remains uncertain.
- Potential enhancements include multimedia content creation, photo and video editing, speech-to-text, translation, and gaming.
- Apple’s integration of generative AI will be a key development to watch.
- Apple’s control over hardware and software gives it an advantage.
- Apple is likely to introduce generative AI capabilities at the WWDC conference in June.
- Despite a potential lag, Apple’s approach may not hinder its market position.
Main AI News:
Generative AI has officially made its grand entrance into the realm of smartphones, marking a pivotal moment in the tech world. This groundbreaking trend, which has been making waves for years, has now found its way to the most indispensable device in our lives. The magnitude of its impact on our day-to-day experiences, however, remains shrouded in uncertainty.
Leading the charge in the generative AI revolution are industry giants Google (GOOG, GOOGL) and Samsung, with their latest smartphone offerings: the Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, and the Samsung Galaxy S24 lineup. As we venture further into 2024 and beyond, it’s safe to assume that other tech behemoths, including Apple (AAPL), will eagerly hop on the bandwagon.
Analysts are quick to predict that generative AI capabilities will soon become a standard expectation for smartphone companies. This innovation not only serves as a tantalizing feature for potential customers but also sparks a new wave of upgrades in a market characterized by sluggish device sales.
Bob O’Donnell, the founder and president of TECHnalysis Research, envisions a future where all phones will incorporate some degree of generative AI. He asserts, “It’s the kind of thing that I think … people can just start to expect.“
According to UBS analysts, the adoption of generative AI smartphones may commence at a gradual pace, but it’s poised to gain momentum swiftly. Their research note from January predicts, “Combining Apple, smartphone, and other Android brands, we project Gen AI smartphones to ramp from 50 [million units] or 4% penetration in 2023 to 583 [million units] or 46% penetration in 2027.”
So, what can we anticipate from AI-powered smartphones that go beyond our current devices’ capabilities? That remains an intriguing puzzle yet to be fully unraveled.
Unlocking the Potential of Generative AI on Mobile Devices
While there are hints of a few apps and features aimed at enhancing existing software, such as improving video calls or running local photo editing programs, companies are relatively tight-lipped about how generative AI will revolutionize the overall user experience.
On the PC front, Microsoft has introduced its Copilot app for Windows 11 machines, but this is a web-based platform that doesn’t demand specific hardware on the user’s end.
Gartner’s senior research director, Ranjit Atwal, optimistically observes, “If I compare PCs and smartphones, I think there’s much more hope that smartphones will actually start to, over time, demonstrate real value from AI and Gen AI.”
According to UBS analysts, generative AI-capable smartphones have the potential to revolutionize multimedia content creation, enable rapid photo and video editing, and offer superior speech-to-text, translation, and enhanced gaming capabilities. Samsung and Google have already showcased formidable generative AI photo editing and translation features in their latest devices.
As we navigate the realm of smartphones, Apple is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the integration of generative AI technology. How the company chooses to implement this technology will be as intriguing as when it ultimately introduces it to its iPhones.
Bob O’Donnell ponders, “Will they do it through Siri and then Siri automatically talks to the other apps, which would be a different way of presenting the same capability? Or … are they going to do something else? I think the devil is going to be in the details of how it’s implemented.”
Nonetheless, Apple possesses a distinct advantage over its competitors, particularly Samsung. Apple exercises complete control over every facet of the iPhone, from software to hardware, all the way down to the chips powering the device. This level of control should enable Apple to craft a seamless and immersive user experience.
Furthermore, Apple has been harnessing the power of the neural engine in its A-series chips for years, facilitating numerous on-device machine learning processes.
According to Mark Gurman, a noted authority on all things Apple, the company is set to introduce generative AI capabilities, including auto-summarization for lengthy text and auto-complete writing tools. These features will be incorporated into the company’s developer tools, with an expected debut at Apple’s annual WWDC developer conference in June.
However, this means that Apple may trail behind Google and Samsung in bringing generative AI capabilities to the market. Given the evolving landscape of generative AI in smartphones, though, this may not prove to be a significant handicap after all.
Conclusion:
The incorporation of generative AI into smartphones marks a significant milestone in the tech industry. Google, Samsung, and soon Apple are poised to reshape the market, offering users enhanced capabilities. While the full extent of this technology’s impact remains uncertain, it represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of smartphones, likely driving consumer demand and stimulating a new upgrade cycle.
