Samsung and Google Cloud have established a comprehensive, multi-year collaboration, encompassing the integration of cutting-edge generative AI (GenAI) capabilities from the hyperscaler into the recently unveiled Galaxy S24 smartphone series.
The revelation of these advanced AI features and the Galaxy S24 lineup took center stage at the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event. The South Korean smartphone juggernaut had previously hinted at the pervasive integration of AI across its diverse range of devices earlier in the year.
Samsung, in an unprecedented move, is set to be the inaugural Google Cloud partner to roll out Gemini Pro on Vertex AI, an innovation anticipated to accompany the imminent release of the Galaxy S24 phones in the weeks to come.
Vertex AI, a machine learning platform crafted to expedite the creation of novel use cases through bespoke tools, aligns seamlessly with Google’s unveiling of the Gemini AI family, a collection of expansive language models (LLMs) introduced in the latter part of 2023.
Gemini Pro’s deployment promises Galaxy S24 users an enhanced experience, leveraging summarization and classification functionalities across a spectrum of Samsung applications, including Notes, Voice Recorder, and Keyboard.
The collaborative efforts assert that Gemini possesses the ability to generalize, comprehend, execute, and amalgamate diverse data types, ranging from textual content and code to images and video.
In the realm of photo editing, Google’s Imagen 2 GenAI image technology will play a pivotal role, offering functions like inpainting, outpainting, and composite editing within the device’s Gallery app. Described as Google’s most advanced text-to-image diffusion technology, Imagen 2 stems from the research and development arm, Google DeepMind.
Both Gemini and Imagen 2 are slated to be delivered to smartphones through cloud-based channels.
The Galaxy S24 series will also be subjected to testing with Gemini Ultra, Google’s formidable model designed for intricate tasks. Furthermore, Gemini Nano, an on-device LLM integrated into the Android 14 OS, will empower diverse functions within the Galaxy S24.
Gemini Nano’s capabilities extend to fueling Google’s Chat Assist, a function adept at transforming messages into conversational or formal tones. The Circle to Search feature, a self-explanatory innovation, enables users to seamlessly search within their Android phone without switching apps, leveraging intuitive actions like circling, scribbling, highlighting, or tapping.
AI-driven functionalities don’t stop there. Live Translate facilitates real-time language translations during phone calls, while Transcript Assist records conversations, distinguishing between different speakers. The phones also boast Interpreter, enabling two-way, instantaneous voice, and text translations within the native app.
Samsung has confirmed that these AI features will eventually extend to the Galaxy S23 series.
Google CEO Thomas Kurian elucidated that the collaboration empowers Samsung’s developers to harness Google’s infrastructure for the creation and delivery of GenAI-powered applications tailored for their smartphones.
In terms of device specifics, the Galaxy S24 series, encompassing the $799 Galaxy S24, $999 Galaxy S24+, and $1,299 Galaxy S24 Ultra, is scheduled for release on January 31. This lineup is fortified by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor.
Samsung’s innovative approach is evident in the incorporation of a titanium frame in the Galaxy S24 Ultra, while the standard and plus models opt for aluminum. Display sizes range from 6.2 inches on the standard device to 6.8 inches on the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
TM Roh, President, and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics, announced a bold commitment during the live Unpacked event: seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates.
Paolo Pescatore, Founder of analyst company PP Foresight, underscored the significance of the Galaxy S24 launch, stating that it has set a new standard for the next generation of smartphones, potentially signaling a transformative era for Samsung and the entire industry.