Samsung to offer live phone call translation on Galaxy S24

Samsung Electronics will preload its real time translation feature, AI Live Translate Call, on its upcoming Galaxy S24. The tool allows users to communicate in different languages without the need for a separate app.

A promotional image of Samsung's translation feature [SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS]

Samsung Electronics will offer real time translation of phone conversations in the upcoming Galaxy S24 series as early as next year. The tech giant has been pushing advanced AI across its portfolio of devices.

The function, dubbed AI Live Translate Call, is part of Samsung's mobile AI system, Galaxy AI, which the company introduced at a forum on Wednesday.

A Galaxy owner can use the feature even if their conversation partner doesn't use a Samsung phone, according to the company in a statement. The tool will be pre-installed on Galaxy S24 models, which the company says will eliminate the hassle of downloading an app and ensure better security.

“Audio and text translations will appear in real time as you speak, making calling someone who speaks another language about as simple as turning on closed captions when you stream a show,” the smartphone maker said.

The performance of the translation feature and the new AI system will be the key to determining Samsung’s AI capabilities at a time when Big Tech companies are all pulling all the stops to excel in the sector.

So far, AI has not seen enough significant uptake to impact the average smartphone user, a Samsung Electronics executive observed at the Wednesday forum.

“Mobile technology has an incredible power to enable connection, productivity, creativity and more for people around the world. But until now, we haven’t seen mobile AI ignite that in truly meaningful ways,” said Choi Won-joon, executive vice president and head of the mobile research and development office at Samsung’s Mobile eXperience division.

“Galaxy AI is our most comprehensive intelligence offering to date, and it will change how we think about our phones forever.”

In line with the AI push, the Suwon, Gyeonggi-based manufacturer has introduced its own generative AI model, “Samsung Gauss,” which may be incorporated into a wide variety of appliances and Galaxy smartphones.

Gauss will primarily circulate among Samsung employees in its beginning phase and will later extend to consumer devices.

Samsung Gauss comes in three models: Gauss Language, specializing in generating texts, Gauss Code for software and code descriptions, and Gauss Image for image creation.

Apple is also developing a wide array of features based on generative AI, though the Cupertino, California company tends to remain tight-lipped about upcoming releases before launch day.

Still, Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a conference call last week that AI is at the heart of its R&D investments, which recently saw an increase of $8 billion.

BY PARK EUN-JEE [park.eunjee@joongang.co.kr]