The Disillusionment of AI Smartphones: Why 2024 Didn’t Deliver

After a year of extensively covering every significant smartphone release in the United States, one resounding theme emerged: “AI is here, and our AI smartphone is the one you’ve been waiting for!” Each launch generated applause and positive stock market reactions, yet upon testing these devices, the AI features often left much to be desired.

The concept behind AI smartphones is revolutionary; they promise to transform the way we interact with our devices. Imagine not needing to navigate through a grid of apps all day! With just a voice command, you could order pizza or send an email. Picture this: pointing your camera at a concert flyer, and having the AI assess your schedule and add the event to your calendar, or asking it to find an email or text about something your friend mentioned. All of this sounds fantastic, and honestly, who wouldn’t want help managing the constant flood of notifications and tasks we encounter daily?

However, the truth is that the promised AI smartphones are still far from realization. What we currently have feels more like an assortment of tech demos rather than a cohesive and functional platform. Right now, AI on smartphones can assist you in drafting more professional emails, cleverly respond with a disco pigeon emoji, or even provide translation during phone calls. But it’s still a far cry from the holistic AI experience that was heralded.

The Unimpressive AI Smartphones of 2024

Let’s take a closer look at the so-called AI smartphones launched this year. Samsung kicked off the year with its Galaxy S24, boldly proclaiming, “Galaxy AI is here!” Sure, the devices are competent smartphones featuring a mix of Samsung's and Google’s Gemini Nano AI components, but calling them AI smartphones is a stretch. Capabilities like removing distractions from photos often lead to more chaos, and while the language translator could be useful, it has its hiccups—like misinterpreting a colleague's comment as “I am eating my chair.”

As we moved into the fall, Google introduced the Pixel 9 series, heavily promoting the integration of its Gemini AI. Features included AI-generated summaries in weather apps, an AI screenshot organizer, and various image generation tools. While some tools seemed genuinely handy, such as the screenshot organizer meant for keeping your numerous Chrome tabs in check, the lack of interconnectivity between these features made the experience feel disjointed.

Apple entered the ring in September with its iPhone 16, initially shipping without any AI capabilities—an indicator of the company's struggles in the AI arena. The much-anticipated Apple Intelligence features did not roll out until late October, but users who expected groundbreaking updates were likely disappointed. Currently, it offers notification summaries, basic writing tools, and a revamped UI for Siri. While the notification summaries can be amusing, they don't constitute the versatile AI experience that users crave.

AI’s Tumultuous Journey

It’s clear that this is a turbulent period for AI technology. Debates rage about whether we’re experiencing an AI bubble on the verge of bursting or if we’re months away from transformative breakthroughs. AI sprinkles itself into every digital product we interact with, from Google search results to the Spotify app, leaving many consumers struggling to distinguish valuable advancements from mere noise.

However, hope lingers, especially for smartphones. Upcoming updates may allow Siri to act on commands within apps, while Google is rumored to integrate a similar framework within Android. These developments could enhance the interplay between AI and user apps, potentially delivering on the long-promised capabilities.

Still, after witnessing a year rife with underwhelming AI features conveniently marketed as revolutionary, one has to wonder: are smartphone manufacturers inadvertently crying wolf? If true AI smartphones don't emerge soon, patience may wear thin. The time for actual innovation is rapidly approaching, and the industry must step up to meet consumer expectations before they lose faith entirely.