[Opinion] More Android smartphone makers adopting AI features is a bonus for Pixel users

2024 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for smartphone AI. After years of Pixel phones reigning supreme in this arena, boasting features like Call Screening, Magic Eraser, and Night Sight, the competition is finally heating up. Samsung’s Galaxy AI is offering a near-mirror image of Google’s capabilities, often with an even slicker user experience. OnePlus is joining the fray with its own AI features for the 11 and 12 series, and recent reports suggest Apple is readying its own AI arsenal. But as a Pixel user (outside the US), I think this fierce competition might just be the key to unlocking AI features we’ve been yearning for.

Let’s face it, when companies are locked in a neck-and-neck race, innovation thrives. Each contender strives to outdo the other, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. This is fantastic news for us, the consumers. We benefit from a wider range of AI-powered features, more refined user experiences, and potentially even faster adoption of these features as companies rush to get their solutions out there.

Take Asus’ ROG Phone 8, for example. The generative AI wallapers feature on the phone, similar to the Pixel’s AI wallpaper creator, allows users to generate wallpapers offline, unlike on the Pixel that requires a connection to the cloud. Even Samsung’s Galaxy AI outshines the AI offerings on Pixel phones in certain situations. This kind of healthy competition forces Google to up its game, potentially leading to even better iterations of its current AI features with future Pixel updates.

While Pixel phones have enjoyed a comfortable lead in the AI game for some time, it’s important to acknowledge that this lead is shrinking. Features like Live Translate, once exclusive to Pixel devices, are now offered by Samsung and we might soon see it on phones from other brands. This begs the question: will Pixel users be left behind if Google continues to limit certain AI features to specific regions like the US?

If Google persists in its regional limitations while competitors offer their AI features globally, Pixel users outside the US will miss out on significant advancements. This could ultimately damage Pixel’s appeal in international markets, especially considering the growing AI expectations of users worldwide.

The recent expansion of Car Crash Detection is a positive step, but it’s not enough. Pixel users deserve access to the full suite of AI features, regardless of their location. The pressure from competitors like Samsung and OnePlus might just be the push Google needs to finally make these features available globally.

Apart from limiting features to the US, Google also has this tendency to neglect its older flagships a year after launch. I mean, think of those who dropped just under one grand for the Pixel 7 Pro, only for Google to turn its complete attention to the Pixel 8 lineup a year later. Features like Video Boost and Circle to Search are exclusive to Google’s newer flagships in town. So those who burned a hole in their wallets buying the previous flagship are left on the sidelines waiting and hoping for Google to acknowledge their existence.

Meanwhile, as mentioned above, OnePlus is rolling out its new AI features to even last year’s flagship, the OnePlus 11. Samsung too is set to release the newly introduced Galaxy AI features to last year’s flagships. Competition in the AI space could incentivize Google to prioritize all Pixel users, not just the latest models.

While competition is undoubtedly driving innovation, it’s worth considering the possibility of collaboration in the future. Imagine a scenario where companies like Google, Samsung, and Apple share certain AI advancements for the greater good, accelerating the development of ethical and beneficial AI features for everyone. This might seem like a utopian dream, but with the ever-evolving landscape of technology, it’s certainly not outside the realm of possibility.

The increasing adoption of AI features by other Android smartphone makers might seem like a threat to Pixel’s unique selling proposition. However, it’s crucial to view this development as an opportunity. Competition breeds innovation, and Pixel users stand to benefit from a wider range of AI-powered features, potentially even pushing Google to finally make their features available globally. So, buckle up, Pixel fans, the smartphone AI race is on, and it’s about to get exciting!

 Loading ...