Smartphone Makers Bet On AI To Boost Sales
Sumaira FH Published February 26, 2024 | 06:24 PM
Smartphone makers are packing their latest devices with flashy new artificial intelligence tools such as real-time voice translation and advanced photo editing in efforts to reignite consumer demand
Barcelona, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Feb, 2024) Smartphone makers are packing their latest devices with flashy new artificial intelligence tools such as real-time voice translation and advanced photo editing in efforts to reignite consumer demand.
The trend was on display at the telecom industry's biggest annual show, the four-day Mobile World Congress (MWC) which got underway Monday in Barcelona, where handset makers focused on the unique AI-powered features of their new flagship devices.
"Phones have just got boring, they are not as exciting as they used to be. The changes from one model to the next are not that great," Ben Wood, chief of researcher at CCS Insight, told AFP.
While cameras, battery life and screens are "a little better" than before, companies need to add more "exciting" capabilities to their products to encourage people to upgrade their phones, Wood added.
"AI is a way to do that," he said.
South Korean giant Samsung's stand at the MWC prominently plugged its new premium AI-powered Galaxy S24 range, which allow users to make or receive a call in a language they don't speak and then receive a live translation of the call both audibly and on the screen.
The feature can handle 13 languages, including French, Japanese and Hindi.
The new handsets -- which were launched in January -- also includes an AI-powered photo editing tool that allows you to easily move and erase objects and people from photos, and then generates content to fill the empty spaces that match its surroundings.
Smaller device makers are also betting heavily on AI.
China's Honor launched its new AI-infused flagship Magic 6 Pro smartphone in Barcelona which features a camera with motion-sensing capabilities that can detect and automatically photograph a fast actions such as sports at the best moment.
The device anticipates users' needs to help them navigate apps more efficiently. For example it can recognise an address in a text message to automatically direct you to a map app.
"AI changes everything," Honor CEO George Zhao said, adding it "can make fantastic things happen."
Smartphone makers are now able to offer these sort of AI-powered features -- often directly on the handset without resorting to more time-consuming and costly cloud computing -- because the computing power of AI chips has increased significantly, analysts said.
"This potentially could be the start of a new era for smartphones," said PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore, adding the challenge for device makers will be to inform consumers about the new AI-powered tools.
"Articulating the merits of AI and the new features to users will be no easy feat. Not all users are necessarily aware of AI and they will be sceptical at first," he told AFP.
The focus on AI comes amid sluggish smartphones sales as consumers are taking longer to upgrade their devices due to a lack of significant innovations, high inflation and economic uncertainties.
Global smartphone shipments declined 3.2 percent to 1.17 billion units in 2023, its second consecutive yearly decline, according to the IDC consultancy which predicts a marginal rebound this year.
AI-powered tools could also become a new revenue stream for device makers. Samsung has hinted that it may introduce more powerful AI features in the future for paid subscribers.
"The kind of value it is adding does not feel like it is enough to justify spending money on it. But Samsung have more of an eye on the future when AI goes to a whole different level of experience and becomes even more powerful that people then may be prepared to pay for it," said Wood.
"Everybody wants to drive a services revenue. They all look at Apple, particularly in the mobile phone business, and they are so jealous of Apple being able to generate so much revenue from a services model," he added.
Apple charges users of its iPhone for a variety of services such as extra cloud storage which has buoyed its profits.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Dubai Police Marks International Workers' Day with 'Talabat' Riders
Sharjah Ruler inaugurates 15th annual Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival
Parineeti Chopra opens up about her decision to marry politician Raghav Chadha
PCB decides to set up training camp for national team ahead of England, Ireland ..
Virat Kohli's sweet birthday wish for Anushka Sharma
Interior Minister commends Pakistan Coast Guards
Pakistan women’s squad announced for England tour
Punjab CM Maryam inaugurates initiative of field hospitals
PM Shehbaz constitutes committee to investigate caretaker govt’s wheat import ..
Women T20I: Pakistan to face West Indies in fourth match tomorrow
Pak-UK 6th Regional Stabilization Conference underway at NDU, Islamabad
World Labor Day being observed today
More Stories From Business
-
SRB tax collection surges 29% to Rs 185.2 billion
13 hours ago -
WSSP, district admin to launch joint operation against water bills defaulters
16 hours ago -
Mega Cotton Seminar held in Bahawalpur
18 hours ago -
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 1 May 2024
20 hours ago -
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 01 May 2024
20 hours ago -
Petrol prices slashed by Rs 5.45 per liter
1 day ago
-
Govt reduces petrol price by Rs5.45 per litre
1 day ago -
FBR issues Income Tax General Order to enforce return filing
1 day ago -
Planning minister reviews preparations for upcoming 13th JCC meeting, PM Shehbaz’s expected visit ..
1 day ago -
FBR issues Income Tax General Order to enforce return filing
1 day ago -
LCCI delegation visits Business Facilitation Center
1 day ago -
2-day Pak-International Poultry Expo begins
1 day ago