Samsung Galaxy S25 AI Assistant: A New Era of Smart Features

Last year saw the rise and fall of many dedicated AI assistant devices, but now, Samsung is stepping in to usher in what it claims is the real era of the AI assistant. With the Samsung Galaxy S25 smartphones, the tech giant is aiming to showcase powerful mobile AI that can manage tasks across multiple applications. The hope is to create a system where users can dictate a text and have it seamlessly transformed into a calendar event, all with minimal input. However, this relies heavily on the accuracy of the AI model.

AI Features of the Galaxy S25

The AI functionalities introduced at Samsung's recent Galaxy Unpacked event are unlike those seen before. These new features promise to fulfill almost everything Apple showcased last year with its AI capabilities, but the concern about AI reliability remains. Although Samsung provided a sneak peek of these features for select media outlets, comprehensive testing has yet to be conducted. The company asserts that its dual approach, employing both on-device and cloud-based AI processing, will keep users’ data secure.

Transition to Google Gemini

The Galaxy S25 series, which includes the S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra models, now relies on Google Gemini for its AI capabilities instead of utilizing a proprietary AI system. Nonetheless, Samsung apps will still play a significant role. For instance, if users request the AI assistant to schedule a calendar event based on a screenshot, it will default to using the Samsung Calendar app unless specified otherwise. Thus, users must clearly indicate their preferences to ensure their requests are directed to the appropriate app.

Updating Older Features

Some previous features from the Galaxy S24, like call translation, continue to function on-device, while new functionalities require a mix of on-device and cloud support. For example, the generative edit function, similar to Magic Eraser, now operates locally thanks to the more powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. Samsung's AI-enhanced Gallery and settings search are also handled on-device, although some functionalities still necessitate cloud assistance from Google.

Personal Data Management

Samsung has developed a mechanism for users to choose which apps and content are accessible to the AI. This capability extends beyond mere prompts; the newly introduced Now Brief widget on the lock screen is also integrated with AI, granting it access to information such as health stats, photos, and calendar entries. Samsung dubs its approach to on-device privacy as the "personal data engine," ensuring that all information sent for cloud processing is end-to-end encrypted. The company claims to prioritize user privacy and assures that no prompts or data are utilized for targeted advertising. Users can modify settings to restrict certain functions to on-device processing, though this may limit access to additional AI features that rely on cloud data.

Real-World Functionality and Limitations

While the new software enhancements have the potential to be very useful, real-world testing outside of exclusive presentations is necessary to confirm their efficacy. It is important to note that not all AI tasks are designed to function solely on the device. More complex operations will require assistance from data centers, which also raises environmental concerns given the resources they consume.

Additionally, if users request the AI to compose a text, it will not send the message automatically. Similarly, while it can guide users to specific settings pages, it cannot execute the changes for them. This means users remain in control and can rectify any AI errors, but the challenge lies in the AI’s ability to complete tasks accurately without direct oversight.

Samsung, AI, Galaxy