The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra will pave the way for the next smartphone revolution.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra will be the company's flagship device, using the Galaxy AI software. Following its debut at the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event, the S25 family, which includes the powerful Galaxy S25 Ultra, will provide the groundwork for Galaxy AI development and growth through 2025 and beyond.
This is an opportunity for Samsung to take the lead and mold the future of mobile artificial intelligence.
Samsung Galaxy AI and Promotion of the New World
Although Google's presentation of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro in October 2023 marked the beginning of the AI-powered smartphone revolution, Samsung's simultaneous launch of the Galaxy S24 series and the introduction of Galaxy AI brought AI to the public. Kantar Research highlighted AI as a key driver of sales in 2024, with about one out of every four consumers purchasing a Galaxy S24 smartphone based on AI.
There are probably two manufacturers who can have a significant impact on customers and directly influence the direction of smartphone development. One is Samsung, while the other is Apple. Apple has yet to finish rolling out the first version of the weirdly backronymed Apple Intelligence, and it is well behind the rest of the Android ecosystem, including Samsung.
Meanwhile, Samsung is expected to announce a significant update to Galaxy AI at this week's Galaxy Unpacked event. With 2025 nearing, the South Korean company's AI projects will be seen as industry-wide decisions. Google's Pixel family has highlighted and demonstrated where they believe smartphone AI should go. Samsung is ready to speed down the new road and reap the benefits of defining the path.
The Mobile World Congress 2024 will be held on February 28, 2024, in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images.)
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Samsung Galaxy AI, Rising TideSamsung is not the only smartphone firm focusing on artificial intelligence. In 2024, every major firm will release their own form of artificial intelligence and generative AI to the market. With each subsequent release, the AI smartphone concept became less of a novelty and more of a necessary component of a smartphone. In research on the rise of AI smartphones, Anthony Scarsella of IDC remarked, "GenAI-capable devices are locked and loaded and look to be the next big thing the industry has to offer consumers."
Galaxy AI made its debut last year in a relative vacuum. Consumers were unsure about AI, what it could accomplish, and why it was so vital to have on their smartphones. Over the previous year, the growing popularity of Android smartphones has supplied answers to such questions. Galaxy AI will launch in 2025 into a proven market where doubts have been answered and anxiety has given way to excitement.
This allows Samsung more time and opportunities to expand rather than constructing a foundation.
to celebrate the launch of the new Samsung Galaxy S24 smartphone with Galaxy AI. (Photo by Joe Maher/GGetty Images for Samsung.)
Getty Images for Samsung
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How to Pay for the Samsung Galaxy AI.
Then there is maybe the most fundamental question regarding AI in general and generative AI in particular. Who pays for everything?
AI smartphones include significant local components, allowing for on-device AI processing. Nonetheless, many popular and well-known AI solutions rely on cloud-based servers to produce fast and accurate results. Several heavy-duty media characteristics fall within this group. Generative AI is somewhat expensive to operate, and when expanded over tens of millions of devices, the expenses add up.
Not all artificial intelligence services are free. Google has bundled Gemini Advanced into its existing Google One subscription service; OpenAI's ChatGPT Pro is oddly priced at $200 per month because CEO Sam Altman "thought we would make some money"; and some smaller AI-based companies, such as the music-focused SunoAI, require subscriptions to unlock their full potential.
The Rubicon has been crossed, yet Galaxy AI remains a free service, both on-device and cloud. That is not to say that this will be true in the future. Samsung's tiny print in 2024 said that "Fees may apply to certain AI features by the end of 2025." As the largest player in the global market, if Samsung decides to charge for Galaxy AI, it would open the door for other hardware manufacturers to give "AI as a Service" to their consumers, perhaps changing to the same freemium model as many other AI services.
Samsung Galaxy AI with the Now Bar
Update on Monday, January 20, 2025: More details on the artificial intelligence suite that will be included in the Galaxy S25 series have emerged ahead of the Galaxy Unpacked launch on Wednesday, January 22. The SamMobile team has highlighted the following features that they anticipate seeing:
"Other Galaxy AI features set to launch with the Galaxy S25 were previously revealed. These include homework AI, music search, enhanced routines, and YouTube notes. The phones will also reportedly include Gemini AI integration for Now Bar, Samsung Calendar, Samsung Notes, and Samsung Reminder.
Some of these capabilities were previously spotted in the beta version of One UI 7, Samsung's Android flavor that serves as the Galaxy series' principal operating system. Samsung built and installed pieces of the Now Bar just before Christmas 2024.
The Now Bar is a standout feature of One UI 7, as it redefines customisation by seamlessly integrating your everyday tasks and most-used applications into your lock screen. It's where you'll organize your entertainment, plan your next great workout, get directions to your next appointment, and start engaging in other languages.
At the time, it was unknown how AI would be used in the Now Bar. It looks that Google's Gemini AI will play an important and visible role. If this is the case, Samsung will embrace Google's AI system and promote tight integration of Galaxy S devices with the latest AI software.
Final thoughts on Samsung's AI plans.
Samsung took the lead in 2024 with the debut of the Galaxy S24, an AI smartphone. This paid off in terms of increased sales and consumer awareness, as well as the opportunity to define market growth and determine the price of AI for clients. With the debut of the Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy AI may make a significant leap forward, redefining the present for the advantage of Samsung.
Last year, Samsung took advantage of its first-mover advantage among customers. It now has the ability to broaden its lead and significantly influence how AI is integrated, authorized, and paid for.