Apple Intelligence vs Samsung Galaxy AI: Which Is The Smarter AI Of The Two?

Samsung and Apple are locking horns once again, and this time, it is in the arena of AI.

Ever since Google implemented its Gemini AI into the Pixel devices, it was only a matter of time before Samsung and Apple would introduce their versions. Samsung’s Galaxy AI on its latest One UI 6.1 interface and Apple Intelligence (a cheeky wordplay on the abbreviation AI) coming to select iPhones with iOS 18, are currently two of the most feature-rich and competitive AI suites you can find on the mobile ecosystem.

So, how about doing an Apple Intelligence vs Samsung Galaxy AI comparison?

You see, these two AI suites may appear similar on paper but there are vast differences in the way they approach generative artificial intelligence. While Apple aims to incorporate generative AI for taking care of mundane things, Samsung’s Galaxy AI exploits the advancements of the field for providing power tools to consumers, especially with the latest Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 foldable phones.

Unlike the software gimmicks of the past, these generative AI suites could eventually be a crucial factor in choosing your next smartphone (and eventually your preferred ecosystem).

Hence, it makes a lot more sense to compare Samsung’s Galaxy AI and Apple Intelligence now to find out which one of these AI suites is smarter.

Apple Intelligence vs Samsung Galaxy AI: Comparing their features

Before we delve in, we’d like to remind you that this comparison is based on everything we know from the listed set of features by Apple and Samsung. We haven’t used these AI suites yet.

With that out of the way, let’s look at everything that Apple Intelligence has to offer.

How capable is Apple Intelligence?

The Apple Intelligence suite, unlike other AI models, is focused on making our everyday digital lives a tad easier and more fun. Apple has divided Apple Intelligence’s capabilities into four separate categories: Writing Tools, Creativity, Siri and Privacy.

Writing Tools

As part of the Writing Tools, Apple includes most of the usual Gen-AI features we have seen on other models. One can use Apple Intelligence to summarise text, proofread paras, rewrite a copy, create tables and lists and choose the tonality of the reworked copy. The summarisation feature is also applicable to priority notifications, emails in the Mail app, messages, call recording transcripts and Smart Reply.

Creator-friendly features

For creators, Apple Intelligence generously throws enough goodies to go wild with your imagination. The Image Playground app, which is also integrated with other Apple apps, lets you generate artificial images using prompts, text and personal images.

The Genmoji feature lets you create a custom emoji right from scratch. The advanced image search lets you use complex descriptions to find the exact photos using the data available on your device. The Image Wand feature on the iPads lets you draw a circle around an illustration to create a stylized image. Lastly, the Clean Up tool in the Photos app lets users erase unwanted objects using AI and fill them up cleverly.

Smart AI assistant

Siri plays a key role in Apple Intelligence. Not only can it guide you in changing certain device settings but Siri’s ability to understand natural human language helps you engage with it freely. Siri can also take actions across and in-app to make your life easier. For example, you can ask Siri to send a mail left in the drafts or attach the most recent photo in an email. You can even ask Siri to look for your personal details stored on your device.

Siri has also been integrated with ChatGPT to assist in answers that need a lot more context and explanation. There are rumours of Apple integrating Siri with Google’s Gemini in the future for the same purpose.

Privacy focused

Privacy is another key aspect of Apple Intelligence. Unlike Samsung and Google, who usually maintain a hushed affair on Gen-AI privacy, Apple proudly confirms that its generative AI model runs mostly on the device. For all the features that require external assistance, Apple’s Private Cloud Compute relies on server farms running on Apple Silicon to return answers while maintaining top-notch privacy.

What about Galaxy AI?

Unlike Apple Intelligence, Samsung’s Galaxy AI is focused on giving creators a bunch of power tools to help with productivity. Galaxy AI is largely based on Google’s Gemini AI model, which is why these features can show up on Google’s upcoming Pixel 9 series.

AI power for translation

A majority of Galaxy AI’s focus goes on translation. The Interpreter feature allows Galaxy AI to partake in your multilingual conversations and help with direct translation. On the foldable devices, it can use the cover display to show the translated text while showing a transcript of what you said on the main display. The feature works in real-time, which makes it a lot more useful for travellers.

Galaxy AI also allows users to translate a PDF file in another language using overlays.

The Live Translation feature, which worked on phone calls earlier, has now been extended to work for calls taken via a few third-party chat apps like WhatsApp.

Creators take ‘note’

The Samsung Notes app was already able to translate, summarise and reformat text using Galaxy AI. With the latest update, it can now do transcription of voice notes and provide translation service for the recorded content.

However, the big change comes for illustrators. On the Galaxy Z Fold 6, you can now turn your roughly drawn illustrations via the S Pen stylus into artificially generated images – something similar to Apple’s Image Wand feature for iPads. The smaller Galaxy Z Flip 6 only lets you draw over existing images and turn them into nicer-looking pictures.

A new Portrait Studio app has been introduced to spice up portrait photos or selfies with different art styles. Samsung says that you will be able to create a cartoon version of your selfie or render a photo of the subject in watercolour painting style. This is more on the lines of Apple’s Image Playground app.

‘Samsung intelligence’ seems smarter

Circle to Search was introduced as a smart way to do Google Image Search. With Galaxy AI, you will now be able to use Circle to Search for translating highlighted text and solving mathematical equations from photos or documents.

To tackle an advanced Siri, Galaxy AI now includes Google’s Gemini app as the default voice assistant on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6. Google’s Gemini is already known to be an advanced Gen-AI-based assistant and as the standard one of Samsung devices, it could help you do a lot more. Most importantly, unlike Siri’s reliance on ChatGPT for complex queries, Gemini can handle everything on its own.

Apple Intelligence vs Samsung Galaxy AI: Our verdict

Winner: Samsung’s Galaxy AI

It isn’t surprising to see Samsung’s Galaxy AI nab the win in this comparison in 2024, as far as the feature set is concerned. Samsung’s Galaxy AI is largely based on Google’s Gemini AI model, which currently is the smartest AI model to be used on mobile phones. Samsung’s headstart in this Gen-AI race has also given it a huge advantage over Apple, giving it enough time to refine its features and include add-ons suggested by consumer feedback.

The translation features also give Galaxy AI an edge over Apple Intelligence, thereby making it more useful for the jet setters of the world. The presence of the Gemini assistant app only makes it better for people who seek a lot more productivity than just creating emojis and summarising webpages.

That said, data privacy is one aspect where Apple Intelligence takes a stand. This is a positive step towards ensuring a safe and secure ecosystem of generative AI features for the future. Google and Samsung need to step up their game on this front to make their ecosystems more appreciative of individual privacy.

(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy Apple and Samsung)