Samsung Galaxy A series phones to get a Gemini button
Samsung has officially announced that some of its Galaxy A series phones will get a quick way to access Gemini. Users will be able to launch Google's AI-powered assistant, by pressing and holding the side button, aka the power button.
The company says that the feature will be available with an update for some devices, and that it will include more AI-goodies such as Samsung Awesome Intelligence. This is technically a watered-down version of Galaxy AI that supports Circle to Search, AI Select, Read Aloud, Object Eraser, and other AI-powered features. Samsung wants to make the Galaxy A series feel similar to its flagship Galaxy S series, by adding such AI improvements.
The South Korean company has partnered with Google to provide these enhancements to help users to activate Gemini faster, and more naturally through a simple gesture that brings intelligent support into the flow of daily tasks. Android Central reports that Samsung is pushing to replace its own virtual assistant, Bixby, in favor of the more-popular Google Gemini.
Recently, a Samsung executive had recently admitted that the company had agreed to a monetary partnership with Google to pre-include the search giant's software on its phones. This was brought up during the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust case vs Google, to highlight how the company uses its financial power to dominate the market, and prevents other services from attracting users.
The Gemini button shortcut will be delivered via an update starting with the Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G, and Galaxy A26 5G phones that were launched last month. Samsung is aiming to roll out the feature in early May. Other devices that will get the Gemini button shortcut include the Galaxy A55 5G, A54 5G, A35 5G, A34 5G, A25 5G, A25e 5G and A24 running One UI 7.
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@ ECJ:
“While I don’t disagree that Microsoft has also abused it’s monopoly position on the desktop, this article is about Google.”
Hand waving bullshit. Microsoft should be broken up. To break up Google and not Microsoft is horseshit. You know it and I know it.
Just because the article is about Google doesn’t mean we cannot bring up Microsoft who is still a monopoly in many areas, this cannot be denied.
As Microsoft licks it’s chops over the looming Google breakup, Microsoft itself should’ve been broken up PRIOR to this YEARS ago! To ignore or hand wave them out of discussion is to ignore Microsoft’s crimes.
Microsoft = Corruption: Plain and simple. They are above the law and this needs to stop.
BTW, check out https://www.techrights.org/ to keep up-to-date with Microsoft and their crimes.
Break up Microsoft now or don’t break up Google. What’s good for the goose…
I have no interest in whataboutism. The Google/Apple stranglehold over mobile is a much greater threat that Microsoft’s monopoly on Desktop.
@ECJ:
[…] “Google still abusing their monopoly position I see.”
No more than M$ who should’ve been broken up a long time ago.
While I don’t disagree that Microsoft has also abused it’s monopoly position on the desktop, this article is about Google.
Specifically, Google have made a deal with the largest Android phone manufacturer in the world to install Gemini – Google’s AI-powered assistant – by default and have dedicated a hardware button for it.
Sundar Pichai has confirmed that Google are also working on a deal to install Google Gemini on iPhones, which will likely be finalized the middle of this year.
There are effectively only two mainstream mobile phone operating systems: Android and iOS. Therefore, Google have effectively shoehorned themselves into being the default AI on both Android and iOS devices. Meaning Google have yet again taken over the entire mobile ecosystem and forced themselves into a monopoly position.
Users better be able to disable this crap. Also, Google still abusing their monopoly position I see.
Yep, it would be nice to have a reprogrammable AI button with at least 5 choices.