SAMSUNG is unfazed by Apple’s grand new AI plans for iPhone, warning rivals they will have to open their doors to keep up.
The South Korean tech giant has just launched two brand new Flip and Fold smartphones, as well as a Ring tracker and smartwatches, all heavily infused with AI features.
Firms have been racing to keep up with the AI frenzy that’s followed since ChatGPT burst onto the scene in late November 2022.
Apple has come in later, with plans to jump on the AI bandwagon in its upcoming iOS 18 update and on the next iPhone.
But in a somewhat surprising development, Apple appears to be loosening its tightly closed approach for iOS by announcing a partnership with ChatGPT creator OpenAI.
Samsung, meanwhile, has been working with some of Google’s AI tech.
“Can they [Apple] compete with us I would say?” James Kitto, Samsung’s UK and Ireland head of mobile told The Sun exclusively.
“We’ve built our own models, our own language models that run specifically on-device but then we’re also working with great partners like Google and we open the door to many others when they’ve got the right kind of solutions that will deliver something tangible to the customer.
“I think what we’ve proven there is you can’t home grow AI on your own and I think other players who will eventually come to market with AI have also discovered that actually this is a new open era that we’re in.
“We’ve always been in it and I think others are finding that they’re going to have to start opening up their doors to participate in what is such a fast paced industry.”
When asked whether Samsung would consider working with OpenAI too, James said the firm will “review” and “contemplate” any potential extra partners as and when they become available.
“At the moment we’re working with Google for certain features and certain processing, when needed in cloud is utilising Google solutions as well as our own,” he continued.
“Our own solutions are embedded on-device.”
Samsung is also planning to introduce some of its newest AI additions to previous handsets via a free Android update too.
The tech giant has already been rolling out extras like live translation for phone calls and advanced image editing tools to phones released before January’s Galaxy S24 series.
Samsung is mulling over charging for Galaxy AI features but has pledged to keep them free until the end of 2025 for now.
“Some of the features that we’ve launched Flip and Fold 6 are of course specific to the screen but other elements of the updates we’re bringing absolutely will roll backwards onto the existing product portfolio that can run and support Galaxy AI,” James said.
“Still very much totally free until the end of 2025 and then of course we’ll update further nearer the time if there are any plans to change but there are currently no plans to change that.”
The Samsung Galaxy Flip 6 and Fold 6 hit shelves on July 24.
The longer you receive updates, the longer you can safely continue using your smartphone - with the latest features thrown in too for free.
Samsung
For Galaxy S24, Flip 6 and Fold 6 phones, Samsung says it will provide at least seven generations of OS updates and seven years of security updates.
OnePlus
At the launch of the OnePlus 12, OnePlus committed to at least four years of Android updates and five years of security updates.
Xiaomi
Xiaomi offers four years off Android updates and five years security updates.
Google
For the Pixel 8, Google said that devices would receive at least seven years of support.
