Will AI on smartphones fade the way of the Metaverse?

Runar Bjorhovde, analyst for Canalys, joined the podcast to explain why smartphone vendors are banking on AI.

At a Glance

  • The rise of AI assistants/agents (05:57)
  • Is there a demarcation between AI services running on devices versus in the cloud? (10:07)
  • Will AI applications on smartphones increase device prices? (24:33)

In 2024, the major smartphone vendors – Google, Samsung, Apple and more – unveiled new AI applications to entice consumers to upgrade their devices.

Runar Bjorhovde, analyst for Canalys, joined the podcast to explain why smartphone vendors are banking on AI. Bjorhovde also discussed whether AI applications on smartphones will have staying power as device differentiators, or if AI agents will fade the way of other defunct tech trends such as the Metaverse. 

Click on the caption button for a lightly edited transcript. 

Here are a few topics we covered:

  • Understanding the rise of GenAI features in the smartphone "transition phase" (00:54)

  • Standout AI features in new smartphones (04:13)

  • The rise of AI assistants/agents (05:57)

  • Will AI agents on smartphones have more staying power than the Metaverse? (07:51)

  • Is there a demarcation between AI services running on devices versus in the cloud? (10:07)

  • How can the industry weigh the benefits of running AI applications on devices versus in the cloud? (12:59)

  • Highlights from Honor's GenAI smartphone demo (19:50)

  • Will AI applications on smartphones increase device prices? (24:33)

About the Authors

Kelsey Ziser

Senior Editor, Light Reading

Kelsey is a senior editor at Light Reading, co-host of the Light Reading podcast, and host of the "What's the story?" podcast.

Her interest in the telecom world started with a PR position at Connect2 Communications, which led to a communications role at the FREEDM Systems Center, a smart grid research lab at N.C. State University. There, she orchestrated their webinar program across college campuses and covered research projects such as the center's smart solid-state transformer.

Kelsey enjoys reading four (or 12) books at once, watching movies about space travel, crafting and (hoarding) houseplants.

Kelsey is based in Raleigh, N.C.

Phil Harvey

Editor-in-Chief, Light Reading

Phil Harvey has been a Light Reading writer and editor for more than 18 years combined. He began his second tour as the site's chief editor in April 2020.

His interest in speed and scale means he often covers optical networking and the foundational technologies powering the modern Internet.

Harvey covered networking, Internet infrastructure and dot-com mania in the late 90s for Silicon Valley magazines like UPSIDE and Red Herring before joining Light Reading (for the first time) in late 2000.

After moving to the Republic of Texas, Harvey spent eight years as a contributing tech writer for D CEO magazine, producing columns about tech advances in everything from supercomputing to cellphone recycling.

Harvey is an avid photographer and camera collector – if you accept that compulsive shopping and "collecting" are the same.

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