CALL INTO QUESTION

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BOOSTS SMARTPHONES GLOBALLY, BUT AFRICA FACES CHALLENGES.

- NAFISA AKABOR

AI on smartphones is redefining how we interact with technology, from quicker search with voice to smarter photo edits and predicting daily needs before we realize them; plus, with Al's pattern-learning, a more personalized user experience.

Samsung first introduced AI to the smartphone with the S24 line-up early in 2024, followed by its Z Foldable range mid-year. Subsequently, brands like Apple, Honor, Oppo and Xiaomi have all introduced some level of AI on its devices.

Androids share similar features, powered by Google AI, such as Gemini - a rival to ChatGPT; Circle to Search; Magic Eraser; Photomojis; and protection against spam and scam calls.

Other features per manufacturer include the ability to summarize notes, create bullet points, transcribe audio and turn it into notes, translate text into multiple languages, summarize web articles to bullet points, etc.

Some devices can compose emails, messages, and social media posts using generative AI, all natively. You just explain the message you want to convey and select different tones, such as professional, casual, friendly, and so on, to get the desired results.

A feature worth noting is Circle to Search, an intuitive way to search for anything you see online, even by pausing a video. You simply long-press the home button, circle what's on your screen, and receive immediate Google results, with follow-up queries.