Introduction

Are smartphone giants like Samsung, Google, and Apple truly on the brink of revolutionizing our mobile experiences with AI, or is it all just hype? As we tread through 2024, this burning question becomes increasingly relevant.

This year heralded an avalanche of AI-infused features, promising to enhance our daily interactions with devices. From tools that can revise texts to instant translation options directly within messaging apps, the landscape of our smartphones is undeniably shifting. You can even eliminate undesirable elements from your photos with mere swipes, or simply sketch an idea and watch it blossom into a polished image.

However, do these advancements feel like a groundbreaking leap as the tech companies have promised? Not quite. Much of what has emerged thus far seems constrained to narrowly defined use cases, making them easy to overlook in our daily routines. Features such as Google’s innovative Circle to Search and Apple’s Visual Intelligence might have a glimmer of potential, but they necessitate a fundamental shift in how we navigate our smartphones—a daunting task for many.

According to a recent economic research paper, generative AI is reportedly being adopted in the U.S. quicker than the rise of personal computers and the internet. If smartphone manufacturers fail to integrate this emerging technology effectively, they risk facing a fate similar to companies that underestimated the smartphone revolution in the early 2000s.

As a glimpse of what the future might hold, some early AI features in smartphones look promising but still require significant refinement. Imagine a world where your device interface leans less on traditional apps and more on intuitive AI agents responding effortlessly to your needs. Although the seeds of these innovations have been planted, it will take time for them to flourish—potentially by 2025.

The State of AI Features in 2024: Lacking Essentiality

Generative AI, which creates content or responses based on specific prompts, took the tech world by storm in 2023, largely due to platforms like ChatGPT. But 2024 is the year that smartphone manufacturers seriously began integrating this technology. Samsung led the charge with Galaxy AI in January, while Apple unveiled its Apple Intelligence in June, ahead of a planned October release. Google has also been steadily announcing various AI advancements, all aimed at enhancing our mobile experience.

Yet, many features introduced seem to fix problems that either aren't significant or that most users don’t encounter. For example, the necessity for rewriting text messages to appear more polished is an odd priority when casual conversations typically don’t warrant such adjustments. The majority of my texting interactions involve friends or family, where casual communication is the norm.

Some AI functions are undeniably entertaining and technologically impressive; Samsung's Portrait Studio comes to mind, which offers the ability to transform photos into different artistic styles. While the novelty of this feature captivated my attention momentarily, it has since waned, leaving me hesitant to use it again.

Similar observations apply to other image-generating capabilities presented in models like the Pixel 9. The initial joy of exploring creative opportunities fades quickly without a practical reason to implement them in daily life. Apple’s Image Playground, part of the upcoming iOS 18.2 beta, adds yet another feature to the pile, although my initial interactions suggest it won’t drastically change my routine either.

Promising Developments: The Future of AI Features

While many of the newly unveiled AI features feel trivial, a few stand out as genuinely promising. Google's Circle to Search allows users to initiate Google searches based on whatever is on the phone screen, potentially streamlining information retrieval. Similarly, Apple's Visual Intelligence mode on the iPhone 16 aims to enhance our interaction with the visual world around us, consolidating user actions.

What sets these features apart from their counterparts is that they are better integrated within the overall system, rather than being limited to specific apps. They address broader issues related to how we manage information on our devices—an effort that resonates with tech industry leaders seeking to create a more efficient user experience.

Despite the potential benefits, these features still face hurdles. For instance, Apple’s summary tool provides insights from conversation threads, but it often misses essential context. Meanwhile, adopting new methods of navigation—like circling items or launching the camera—requires a shift that may not come naturally to all users.

Moving forward, it’s clear that AI still has much to prove within smartphones. As we gaze into the future, we can't overlook initiatives such as Google’s ambitious Project Astra or Qualcomm’s ideas around proactive app functionality. There’s an abundance of endeavors underway to enhance intuitiveness, including improvements to Google’s Gemini extensions and Apple’s upgraded Siri.

Looking ahead to 2025, the question remains: Will we see a complete abandonment of traditional apps in favor of AI-driven interactions? While that remains uncertain, one thing is clear: users want features that are not just innovative but practical—to seamlessly integrate into their everyday lives beyond mere novelty. It's time for tech companies to step up and deliver on that promise.