Samsung develops its own generative AI ‘Gaussian’ technology… Self-evolving by learning usage patterns
Samsung launched the first artificial intelligence (AI) smartphone ‘Galaxy S24’, ushering in the ‘AI phone era’. AI technology, which caused a huge craze last year, led by ChatGPT, has made its way into smartphones. The Galaxy S24, which has a design that continues the existing Galaxy line and has upgraded smartphone functions, is also equipped with online AI search and many on-device AI functions that calculate the device itself. With the launch of this AI phone, will Samsung be able to reclaim its throne over the iPhone in the smartphone market?
Ons-device AI support
Samsung Electronics will sequentially launch the Galaxy S24 series worldwide, including Korea, starting January 31. What differentiates the Galaxy S24 from the existing Galaxy series is that it is equipped with the self-developed AI platform ‘Galaxy AI’. “The Galaxy S24 series will spark mobile innovation over the next 10 years,” said Roh Tae-moon, president of Samsung Electronics’ wireless business division. “We expect Galaxy AI to open up new possibilities in the daily lives of users around the world.”
The characteristic of the AI phone released by Samsung is that AI can be easily used in a smartphone environment without having to search for and access existing generative AI programs. By supporting on-device AI, which processes information on its own within the device, the accessibility and usability of AI functions has been further improved so that most AI functions can be used without a cloud or Internet connection.
Representative functions that can be conveniently used even in an offline environment include interpretation and translation and voice/text conversion. It supports real-time two-way sequential call interpretation services for 13 languages, including Korean, English, Chinese, Spanish, French, German, Vietnamese, Italian, Japanese, Thai, Portuguese, Polish, and Hindi. When talking on the phone with a foreigner, they read it to you in Korean and translate the conversation into text. Even when using text messaging or KakaoTalk, it is equipped with a ‘Chat Assist’ function that translates text by simply pressing the AI function button.
The Galaxy S24 camera has taken overall performance to the next level through the AI-based ProVisual Engine. In particular, you can shoot with a clear screen even when using digital zoom in the dark of night. Video and photo editing features have also been improved. When editing a photo in the gallery application (app), you can move the subject according to the touch. At this time, natural editing is possible because generative AI fills in the empty space. Additionally, the ‘Instant Slow-mo’ function does not simply slow down the playback speed, but AI adds new frames based on the subject’s movement to create a natural slow-motion playback effect.
Equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 3rd generation
In some functions, hybrid AI that utilizes the cloud is applied. ‘Note Assist’ in the writing app ‘Samsung Notes’ is a function where AI automatically summarizes texts or memos. No matter how long the content is, it provides a simple summary of the paragraph selected with the S Pen. It is possible to change the text to suit the format of the meeting minutes and check for typos. Web browsers also provide a summary function, and Chat Assist recommends writing style in honorific, informal, and SNS (social network service) styles. ‘Circle to Search’ is a function where AI searches for related information when you draw a circle while using the web, video, or camera app. It displays search results quickly on various platforms such as Google Web, YouTube, and SNS in just a few seconds.
Before AI phones, AI functions existed in existing smartphones. Previously, Galaxy was equipped with an AI assistant called ‘Bixby’ to provide functions such as search, photo taking, and voice support. Early last year, Samsung upgraded its voice assistant by mixing existing phone calls with Bixby's features. Bixby acts as an intermediary to answer calls and communicate through text messages. In addition, Bixby not only replicates your voice when reading a text to a caller, but also expands the offline function to support specific commands on the device itself without an Internet connection, such as setting a timer and activating a flashlight.
Although Galaxy AI may seem like an updated version of Bixby, it can be said to be a more expanded platform version. The biggest change that supports this is that the Galaxy S24 is equipped with a powerful chip that supports Galaxy AI. The Galaxy S24 is equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 3rd generation as its brain application processor (AP). This chip not only guarantees fast processing speed in multitasking, etc., but also continues to evolve as it is used more by learning usage patterns.
Samsung has been developing its own generative AI, ‘Gauss’. ‘Gauss’ is a machine learning-based AI model named after the genius mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss. Based on this, Samsung has developed AI models that process a variety of technologies, from text to image creation to code writing. This Gaussian was optimized for the Galaxy S24, an AI phone, through a quantization process. At the same time, collaboration with Google is also noticeable. Google has already introduced an AI phone called the Pixel Phone that supports text summary and photo editing tools, but it is true that its market dominance is weaker than that of Samsung. This Galaxy S24 allows users to utilize Google search tools and the latest generative AI model, Gemini.
Mobile AI competition begins
Meanwhile, it is unclear whether Apple will develop an AI phone, but it is known to be researching software functions based on generative AI. A major reorganization of the AI team is currently underway. Another AI startup, Rabbit, also unveiled R1, a portable device capable of using AI, at ‘CES (International Consumer Electronics Show) 2024’. The device is small enough to fit in your pocket and is easy to carry.
“Generative AI is essential to Samsung’s long-term product strategy,” Sheung Win Chau, a smartphone analyst at Canalys, a global market analysis firm, said in the Washington Post. “Samsung is competing with Apple through product innovation and business models that go beyond hardware.” “We must find new ways to compete and expand our market leadership in the Android ecosystem.”
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