Galaxy S8 to come with AI features

By Lee Min-hyung

Samsung Electronics’ upcoming flagship handset, the Galaxy S8, will be equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) functions, paving the way for a powerful new paradigm shift in the smartphone industry, the company said Friday.

“The S8 will become our first smartphone with AI agent technology,” Samsung Electronics Vice President Rhee In-jong said in a press conference, Friday. “This will be our first step in achieving our vision of connecting the devices in an intelligent way, making people’s lives more convenient.”

AI agent technology refers to a kind of software application that can automatically execute tasks manually instructed by its user. Earlier last month, Samsung Electronics acquired Viv Labs, a U.S.-based AI firm, in its bid to establish what it calls an AI-centred open ecosystem by taking advantage of the latter’s expertise in natural language understanding and machine learning technology.

In the press conference, the company unveiled its AI business initiative with Viv executives ― including its CEO Dag Kittlaus and CTO Adam Cheyer.

Samsung Electronics said its ultimate goal is to establish an open AI platform where Internet of Things (IoT) devices can be interconnected via voice control.

“The new AI functions of the S8 are not about its services, but the beginning of our vision,” the Samsung executive said. “We are going to expand its presence into other devices ― including televisions, refrigerators and washing machines. Users will not have to operate any apps in the upcoming era, as the open AI ecosystem will allow agents to do tasks on their own.”