Samsung Electronics ramps up efforts to expand Galaxy AI

Samsung Electronics announced on the 24th that it is expanding the language support for ‘Galaxy AI’ to 20. (Samsung Electronics)

South Korea’s tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. is accelerating efforts to expand its Galaxy AI ecosystem.

The company is not only increasing the number of smartphone models equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) functions but also improving user accessibility by significantly expanding the number of compatible languages.

It is additionally enhancing the integration of Galaxy AI with various Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as home appliances, that users encounter in daily life.

Industry insiders note that the move indicates Samsung’s intention to strengthen its market leadership, especially as competitors such as Apple Inc. are taking a more cautious approach to on-device AI.

Samsung Electronics announced on Thursday that it will add four new languages - Dutch, Romanian, Swedish, and Turkish - for its Galaxy AI from the end of October 2024, bringing the total to 20.

Previously supported languages include Korean, Simplified Chinese, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, and Japanese, among others.

Current features offered by Galaxy AI include “Real-Time Interpreter,” which translates conversations during phone calls; “Interpreter” mode, which translates face-to-face conversations and displays the text on a split screen; “Chat Assist,” which helps with efficient chatting; and “Note Assist,” which aids in translating and organizing notes.

Samsung emphasized that it is not only focusing on adding languages but also enhancing Galaxy AI with a deep understanding of local cultures and knowledge.

To achieve this, the company is working on improving language models at more than 20 research and development (R&D) centers around the world, including on refining communication capabilities for regions with complex dialects and tonal languages, enabling seamless communication without interruptions.

The company is also making rapid strides in terms of expanding on-device AI functionality. It has been adding AI capabilities to its existing mid- to low-priced devices, not to mention the Galaxy S24 series, the world’s first AI phone launched in January 2024, and the Galaxy Z6 series released in July.

With the inclusion of the Galaxy Tab S8 and S10 series, the number of Galaxy AI-supported devices has grown to over 30.

Industry insiders believe that Samsung is well-positioned to meet its goal of reaching 200 million global units by the end of the year.

Wearable devices such as smartwatches and rings with health care features including sleep tracking and heart rate monitoring are also expected to play a key role in advancing Galaxy AI.

It is understood that Samsung aims to enhance users’ AI experiences through improved device connectivity by expanding the scope of Galaxy AI to home appliances such as TVs.

“Samsung’s company-wide focus on AI software and platform innovation is primarily aimed at creating a unique Galaxy ecosystem that provides personalized experiences anytime, anywhere and allows for close care between family members,” an industry insider said. “The connectivity between products, from mobile to home appliances, will become more pronounced moving forward.”

As part of this strategy, Samsung plans to integrate the software experience of its main product lines under the “One UI” brand, which will enable more comprehensive AI services across both mobile and home appliance sectors starting in 2025.

There is also room for AI to be incorporated into Samsung’s extended reality (XR) devices, currently being developed in collaboration with Qualcomm Inc. and Google LLC.

Roh Tae-moon, president and head of the Mobile Experience (MX) Division at Samsung Electronics, said during a town hall meeting at Samsung‘s Suwon campus on Wednesday that “we will expand AI experiences across our various products, including Galaxy Tab, Book, Watch, Ring, and Buds, to upgrade our Galaxy ecosystem even further.”