Samsung Electronics has unveiled its latest premium Galaxy S24 series smartphones, featuring a range of artificial intelligence (AI) functions, including the ability to allow simultaneous translation of foreign language phone calls.
The simultaneous translation feature makes the S24 the first-ever smartphone to offer two-way voice translation in real-time during live phone calls conducted in different languages. The on-device AI function, available in 13 languages, utilises Samsung’s proprietary generative AI training.
Among the innovative features is the “circle-to-search” function, which allows users to search any part of an image on the screen directly in Google. The smartphones also offer AI translation with the ability to change message tones between casual, formal, business, or social media. Additional functionalities include AI summaries and translation of voice recordings, “generative editing” of photos to fill in non-existent backgrounds, and real-time video conversion to slow-motion through AI-generated frames.
Samsung’s emphasis on on-device AI, which does not require cloud connectivity, aims to enhance personal data security, distinguishing it from competitors like Qualcomm. The strategy aligns with the industry trend as Canalys forecasts a growth from 5% of AI-capable smartphones in 2024 to 45% in 2027.
While only 5% of smartphones shipped in 2024 are predicted to be AI-capable, industry experts anticipate that generative AI functions will have a substantial impact on the smartphone market in the long term, particularly in terms of user experience.
The Galaxy S24 series is set to hit the market on 31st January with a starting price of $799 for the base model in the United States. The higher-specification versions, S24 Plus and S24 Ultra, will be priced at $999 and $1,299, respectively. Samsung has maintained the prices of the base model and Plus variant, while the Ultra sees a $100 price increase compared to last year.
