AI phones: present, future, and best models
AI is a hot topic everywhere right now, and the mobile phone market is no exception.
AI and generative AI are transforming advancements in phone technology, and they'll continue to revolutionise the capabilities of phones for the foreseeable future.
How do mobile phones use AI now?
Although AI feels like a new phenomenon, it has been used in phones for more than a decade.
Many everyday phone functionalities we rely on are powered by AI. For instance, Siri, Apple's voice assistant for iPhone, has been around since the launch of the iPhone 4S in 2011.
Here are some examples of AI phone technology you'll already be familiar with:
Predictive text and auto correct
Voice dictation and speech recognition
Language translation
Security, like facial recognition and fingerprint scanning
AI assistants, like Siri and Google Assistant
Photo tools, like night mode and portrait mode
Music identification apps, like Shazam
Identify usage patterns to prolong battery life
How are mobile phones starting to use generative AI?
AI and generative AI differ in that AI uses a discrete set of rules to solve specific problems, whereas generative AI is concerned with building new content.
We can only guess what the future of AI will be, but it seems likely that generative AI will play a large part.
Here are a few examples of how cutting-edge generative AI is used in recent phones:
Improved current features | AI camera | Improved AI processors for gaming | AI-powered replies |
|---|---|---|---|
Expect better battery management and more sophisticated biometric authentication. Learn more about the phones with the best battery life | Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro include tools to choose the best facial expressions from people in your group shot and swap them between images. Read more about phones with the best camera | Personalised gaming experiences will be generated, including adaptive difficulty levels and dynamic storytelling. More information on the best gaming phones | Generated responses in different tones depending on the context. |
AI voice | Virtual assistants | Improved search | Ultra customisation |
An AI-powered answering assistant will be able to reply to calls in your voice. | Have your calls summarised with the main points extracted and receive recommendations. | Circle anything in an image and get instant search results. | Your phone will be more personal than ever before. Think dynamic wall papers, menus, and designs. |
Best AI phones
Samsung Galaxy S24 series
The Samsung Galaxy phones that include Galaxy AI and camera AI are:
Galaxy AI
How does Galaxy AI make your life easier?
Live TRANSLATE¹ makes booking things abroad easy with two-way, real-time translation
Circle to search with Google² gives you information about anything. Simply draw a circle around an object on your screen and get instant search results
Transcript Assist writes up meeting minutes (including who said what), and Live Transcript gives you summaries
Chat Assist gives you tone of voice suggestions based on the context in which you're writing
Note Assist allows you to structure and re-format your notes nicely and provides summaries of written content
Camera AI
How does Camera AI improve your photos?
Space Zoom (an advanced, AI-powered zoom) processes the relevant information to capture clearer, brighter pictures and videos from greater distances than ever before - enjoy 100x Space Zoom on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or 30x Space Zoom on the Samsung Galaxy S24+ and S24
Photo Assist provides recommendations and automatic edits, such as erasing objects and removing reflections from your images, so you can create the picture-perfect scene
Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro
Google AI
How does Google AI assist you?
Live Translate helps you translate messages, signs, and face-to-face interactions on the spot in 49 languages¹
Improves app experiences by writing messages in half the time² and managing tasks for you, allowing you to spend more of your time doing what's important
Improved camera thanks to Google AI - record silky smooth video footage and get up close and personal with the Super Res Zoom without an additional telephoto lens³
Take better photos by improving the lighting, background, or move or erase a subject. Plus, it doesn't matter if someone's eyes are closed - Best Take uses data from other pictures to create one perfect image
A faster and more efficient phone to help you throughout the day⁴
AI phones: feature comparison
Camera AI | |||||
Photo AI editing | |||||
Best Take | |||||
AI-generated summaries | |||||
Chat AI assistance | |||||
Call AI transcripts | |||||
Live call translation | |||||
Circle to search with Google |
Frequently asked questions
AI stands for artificial intelligence.
An AI phone is any phone that uses artificial intelligence.
Most modern smartphones will use basic AI functionalities.
For example, if your phone uses auto correct or you have biometric authentication - such as face or fingerprint ID - then your phone uses AI.
We use AI features in smartphones without even realising.
For example, if you've benefitted from auto correct when writing a text or email, AI has impacted how you use your phone.
What's more, it's commonplace to use voice assistants, like Siri, when using a smartphone.
Terms and conditions
¹Available in 15 languages from launch.
²Accessible on any app that doesn't block screenshots.
¹Based on tap and voice typing in English. Voice typing is not available in all languages or countries.
²Not available in all languages or countries. Not available on all media or apps. Translation may not be instantaneous. More information on Live Translate
³Not available for all camera apps or modes.
⁴Compared to earlier Pixel phones.