Galaxy S25: Samsung relies on Gemini
23/1/2025
Translation: machine translated
Samsung may write Galaxy AI on its smartphones, but most of the AI innovations in the Galaxy S25 come from Google. Gemini is thus taking a big step forward in the competition between AI tools.
The Galaxy S25 offers few innovations in terms of design and features. However, a lot has changed in terms of the software, or more specifically the AI. Samsung's Bixby assistant takes a back seat and Gemini takes over as the better successor to Google Assistant. At launch, some functions are exclusive to the S25 - but that won't last forever.
Samsung introduced Galaxy AI with the Galaxy S24. It provided AI tools in some apps. Anyone who wanted to could install Gemini as an app on the devices. With the Galaxy S25 and One UI 7, Gemini is no longer an optional app, but deeply integrated into the system.
Actions via multiple apps
With the latest update, Gemini can now perform cross-app actions. This is the current AI trend, the so-called "AI Agents". AI agents are basically a further development of voice assistants. They can not only respond to commands, but also perform tasks independently by utilising various online tools, apps and information. Imagine your voice assistant independently booking a flight for you after you have just told it when and where you want to travel. This is a task that an AI agent takes over.
Current and somewhat more realistic examples from Google and Samsung for the S25 include finding a restaurant, including formulating and sending the invitation to dinner to several contacts. Or finding recipes, including transferring the required ingredients to a notes app.
Source: Jan Johannsen
At launch, however, Gemini does not have access to all apps in overarching prompts. In addition to its own apps, Google only mentions Spotify as an integrated third-party app. On the Galaxy S25, the apps from Samsung and Whatsapp are also included. Apart from the restrictions on the apps that can be integrated, the so-called "multi-extension prompts" should be available to all Gemini users on the web and in the app on Android and iOS.
AI gains access to photos and videos
With Gemini, Gemini Live is also coming to the new Samsung smartphones. Specifically, the part of the AI with which you should be able to have a conversation like with a human. Gemini Live now has access to photos, YouTube videos and other files. You can therefore talk to the AI about the content of files, have videos summarised or get tips on how to design photos.
Access to pictures, YouTube videos and files for Gemini is now available not only on the Galaxy S25. It is also available for all Galaxy S24 and Pixel 9 devices. According to Google, other Android devices will be given access to the new function in the coming weeks.
Gemini fulfils the promise of the Google Assistant
With the deep integration of Gemini into the One UI user interface, Samsung is fully utilising Google's AI. The Galaxy AI still has its own AI tools. However, they are not a new feature this year, but simply continue to exist. Although Bixby has not yet died, it has never achieved a level of relevance that can compete with other voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa.
When it comes to AI agents, Google is now ahead of the game and is expanding its user base enormously via Samsung smartphones in the near future - especially compared to the competition, which is not pre-installed.
Under the banner of AI agents, all AI companies are currently trying to adapt their tools so that they take over more and more tasks from humans. Put simply, they should press the touchscreen on their smartphones less and instead talk to the AI agents more and have them carry out tasks. This reminds me of the promises that were made about the Google Assistant or Siri in the early days. These are only now slowly being fulfilled.
Header image: Jan Johannsen
As a primary school pupil, I used to sit in a friend's living room with many of my classmates to play the Super NES. Now I get my hands on the latest technology and test it for you. In recent years at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, now at Digitec and Galaxus.
