1. Smartphone Users Concerned About Privacy
2. Tech Firms Continue to Integrate AI on Smartphones
3. Additional Subscriptions and Their Impact on Users

A recent survey has revealed that an estimated quarter of smartphone users do not find AI features helpful, despite significant investments by tech giants in this area.

Smartphone Users Concerned About Privacy

Despite efforts to improve mobile devices with AI capabilities, users are not highly motivated by this technology. According to a survey by CNET, only 18% would upgrade their smartphones for AI features. Most users (61%) are more interested in longer battery life, 46% in more storage, and 38% in better camera features. About a third of respondents expressed concerns over privacy issues related to AI usage on their smartphones. The survey shows that 34% of users flagged their unease at AI on their smartphones due to data privacy concerns. Tech companies have also emphasized privacy considerations during their keynotes. For instance, at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, Apple noted that many of its AI models run on-device, which is generally considered more private because information does not have to travel over the internet. The company also noted that only relevant data will be relayed to Apple Silicon servers when more computational power is needed, and that this data will not be stored or accessible to Apple.

Tech Firms Continue to Integrate AI on Smartphones

While AI ranks among the last reasons for smartphone users to upgrade, tech giants are not backing down on their plans to enhance AI capabilities on these devices. For instance, Apple is anticipated to announce its iPhone 16 featuring the company’s Apple Intelligence suite of AI features, including AI-powered tools like ChatGPT and a smarter Siri. Last month, Google showcased its Pixel 9 with a strong focus on AI features, while Samsung also touted Galaxy AI that simplifies tasks like translating messages and editing images.

Additional Subscriptions and Their Impact on Users

As tech firms continue to invest in AI, consumers may soon have to pay for these AI capabilities. For example, the Samsung website points out that Galaxy AI features “will be provided for free until the end of 2025 on supported Samsung Galaxy devices.” Also, customers will need to subscribe to Gemini Advanced to use advanced AI features across Google’s apps. Another CNET survey shows that many consumers are not willing to pay extra charges for accessing AI on their smartphones. Nearly half of smartphone users are reluctant to pay for AI features. Moreover, another survey revealed that adults in the US spend an average of $91 on subscription services each month, with about two-thirds noting that at least one of their subscriptions became more expensive over the past year. Introducing another subscription may not be appealing to a market already experiencing “subscription fatigue.”

Surveys indicate that a significant portion of smartphone users are skeptical about AI features, primarily due to privacy concerns and additional costs. Despite this, tech companies continue to integrate AI into their devices, hoping that consumers will eventually appreciate the benefits of this technology.