At Wednesday night’s Galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung revealed its vision for how we interact with artificial intelligence (AI) through an engaging 165-minute showcase. They introduced the new Galaxy S25 smartphone lineup, powered by Galaxy AI, enhancing our mobile experience.
The Galaxy S25 features the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor, a result of collaboration with Qualcomm. This partnership gives the device a significant performance boost: 40% increase in AI processing (NPU), 37% improvement in application performance (CPU), and 30% lift in graphics processing (GPU) compared to its predecessor.
On the security front, Samsung included post-quantum cryptography in the Galaxy S25 to protect personal data from future quantum computing threats. The updated One UI 7 software adds a stronger layer of safety, focusing on AI and hyperconnectivity. New features like Maximum Restrictions settings, enhanced Theft Protection, and a Knox Matrix dashboard help users monitor security across their devices.
While speakers emphasized data protection, the spotlight remained on Galaxy AI and its role in transforming the S25 into a personal digital assistant. Drew Blackard, vice-president of product management, highlighted how Galaxy AI fosters deeper connections. He mentioned that it breaks down language barriers in real time, streamlining conversations significantly.
DeepMind’s CEO, Demis Hassabis, stressed the potential of AI, stating that it will evolve into systems that effectively handle tasks and provide value. He noted Google’s collaboration with Samsung to incorporate advanced features into the Gemini app.
Jay Kim, Samsung’s head of customer experience, elaborated on crafting personalized AI experiences. He explained that integrating AI agents and multimodal capabilities across all devices enhances user experience. This requires open collaboration, which benefits the wider AI ecosystem.
Samsung’s Personal Data Engine processes information locally, ensuring data privacy with Knox Vault’s security measures. Kim reassured consumers that cloud AI only accesses data when necessary and deletes it shortly thereafter. This hybrid approach keeps personal information secure while offering a tailored AI experience.
Ian Horrocks, a computer science professor at Oriel College in Oxford, spoke about the technology behind the Personal Data Engine. He highlighted knowledge graph technology, which enables better information comprehension for more accurate insights. This innovation connects different smartphone services, overcoming prior limitations.
In addition, Samsung implemented the C2PA standard in the Galaxy S25 series, introducing digital watermarks for AI-generated content, ensuring its origins are traceable.
Ben Woods, principal analyst at CCS Insight, commented on the event. He noted that while Samsung’s hardware improvements are often incremental, the emphasis on AI represents a significant shift. For users with older devices, this could be a compelling reason to upgrade, but it may not sway those with relatively new phones.