Thanks to the collaboration between Google Cloud and Samsung, Galaxy S24 users will now have access to the advanced AI model, Gemini, through Samsung’s own apps and services. This partnership signifies a closer relationship between Google and Samsung, with Samsung manufacturing the Tensor chip for Google’s Pixel phones, and Google in turn sharing its powerful AI algorithms with the new Samsung Galaxy S24 phones. While this is advantageous for Samsung, it raises the question of whether the Tensor chip is essential for the Pixel’s intelligence. The Pixel’s AI features are now available on the Galaxy S24, indicating that it’s the Google AI algorithms that make the Pixel smart, rather than the Tensor chip, positioning Tensor as a business-driven product rather than an integral part of the Pixel phone. Interestingly, the AI algorithms/features developed by Google seem to perform better and faster on the Galaxy S24 than on the Pixel 8, highlighting the potential for Google to enhance its next Tensor SoC to match the capabilities of Qualcomm chips or continue using them. With Samsung potentially outperforming the Pixel, it poses the question of whether Google is striving to make the best version of Android, the best Pixel phone, or making the best business decisions, and whether such partnerships benefit the overall Android ecosystem. The shared AI intelligence between the Galaxy S24 and the Pixel 8 may not extend to other Android phones, potentially causing them to run the same version of Android at higher pressures. The selective access to Google’s new AI algorithms for the Pixel and Galaxy devices may create a competitive disadvantage for other Android phone manufacturers. This approach could lead to conflicts within Google as it aligns its interests with Samsung’s business, and aims to strengthen its position in the mobile phone market, potentially impacting the overall Android landscape.
