Samsung simply unveiled its two new flagships, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, that are each now out there for preorder. Samsung additionally introduced 5 new wearables you may preorder, together with three that can make folks say the Korean firm is copying Apple once more: The Galaxy Watch Extremely, Galaxy Buds 3 Professional, and Galaxy Buds 3.
Additionally, Galaxy AI was a foremost theme of the occasion, with AI options current in a roundabout way in all these units. The telephones will profit particularly from new and present Galaxy AI options, together with Google’s Circle to Search and the Gemini assistant that’s coming later this yr.
As a lot as Samsung tried to cover it, there was no “Samsung Intelligence” on the present. By that, I imply a collection of AI options from Samsung which are wherever close to as refined as Apple Intelligence. There was no Bixby improve announcement to rival the Siri AI that’s coming to iOS 18 units.
The excellent news is that Samsung teased next-gen AI options that can tackle Apple Intelligence sooner or later later this yr. It form of felt just like the Unpacked occasion’s “yet another factor.” But when there was one Apple product Samsung ought to have copied instantly, that’s the Apple Intelligence suite of apps and options unveiled at WWDC 2024. Apple Intelligence is already being seen as an enormous driver for iPhone 16 gross sales.
No reply to Apple Intelligence?
The Galaxy AI demos at Unpacked confirmed evolutions of present Galaxy AI options, with an enormous deal with stay translation options. There have been additionally some new capabilities like Sketch to Picture, which lets customers generate photos utilizing AI.
Samsung even included a celeb cameo to showcase a brand new Picture Help function the place you may generate photos based mostly on photographs. Sydney Sweeney was within the viewers, however she didn’t truly do something aside from watch an AI-generated 3D picture based mostly on a photograph of her. This wasn’t even a demo that occurred in actual time.
It was at that time that I spotted Galaxy AI wouldn’t get any actually thrilling AI assistant options at Unpacked. Samsung had no intention of peculiar the viewers with a collection of AI apps like Apple Intelligence for the brand new Fold and Flip telephones. There was no speak of Bixby both, although Samsung did have Google demo Gemini on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6.
In case you’ve seen Apple’s WWDC occasion or Google’s I/O 2024 keynote, you’ll keep in mind how superb their respective AI assistant demos have been.
Siri will be capable of carry out actions in apps and deal with complicated queries. It would additionally get contextual details about you and entry to the display so it might higher help you. Along with your permission, Siri will transfer some extra complicated inquiries to ChatGPT. Most Apple Intelligence options will run on-device, whereas cloud processing will profit from a brand new Apple tech to safe the knowledge change.
Google’s Gemini assistant demo was equally spectacular. Most likely beginning with the Pixel 9, you’ll get a Gemini assistant that’s nearly as good as GPT-4o and even higher in addressing multimodal prompts. The telephone will be capable of hear and see what you hear and see. Voice interactions are about to get much more complicated, too, much like what’s out there from ChatGPT.
Samsung couldn’t match any of that at Unpacked, although it tried to make it seem like the corporate was heading in the identical path.
Samsung’s large “yet another factor” teaser
On the finish of the present, proper after we acquired costs for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6, Samsung had what appeared like a “yet another factor” second. It was comparable in scope to the Galaxy Ring announcement from the Galaxy S24 Unpacked occasion in January.
Samsung teased a hybrid method to Galaxy AI, much like Apple’s, however with out going into a lot element so far as specifics. Samsung mentioned that on-device AI applies to delicate info, like conversations, and Stay Translate and Interpreter options. Extra complicated options will run within the cloud, although customers can restrict cloud AI from the telephone’s settings.
That’s when Samsung dropped a teaser about higher issues to return. It began to sound quite a bit like an actual reply to Apple Intelligence and Google Gemini:
Within the close to future, multimodal and contextual Al will operate as an interconnected ecosystem, enhancing your on a regular basis life by performing complicated and customized duties.
Our on-device Al algorithms will develop a private Information Graph for every person, studying out of your utilization over time, to offer progressively tailor-made providers.
Every private Information Graph will combine a number of information factors, understanding their context to supply a extra customized expertise. For instance, you probably have a low Vitality Rating, Galaxy Al will analyze your schedule and counsel taking a break out of your 7:00 AM spin class.
This stage of integration can be achieved by on-device, safe info evaluation.
That sounds quite a bit just like the Siri and Gemini AI-based assistants we’re about to get in iOS 18 and Android 15. Nevertheless, Samsung by no means talked about Bixby and didn’t decide to any specifics.
Furthermore, Samsung included Google on this yet another factor second, with Rick Osterloh approaching stage to element the Samsung-Google partnership and recap the Gemini options coming to Android telephones this yr, together with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6.
Bixby will grow to be an AI assistant
It was solely after the present that Samsung talked about Bixby by title. “We’re going to advance Bixby with software of Gen AI expertise,” Samsung cell chief TM Roh advised CNBC. This Bixby improve will occur this yr, with Bixby working on Samsung’s massive language fashions.
Samsung did announce its Gauss fashions in early January. That’s what is perhaps powering this Bixby AI. However I’m speculating at this level, as Roh didn’t reveal different particulars.
The chief added that Galaxy AI would assist a number of voice assistants on its units, just like the Gemini assistant, which can be a part of the Galaxy AI expertise of the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6.
However Roh appears sure that AI options “are robust motivations and drivers for the acquisition of recent merchandise.” That’s all of the extra purpose for Samsung to attempt to match Siri AI and Gemini with an assistant of its personal.
