Samsung Adopts Baidu AI Over Google AI In New Galaxy S24 Devices In China
Samsung has unveiled its Galaxy S24 lineup in China with a significant collaboration with Chinese tech giant Baidu to drive the phone's artificial intelligence (AI) features.
This is in contrast to Western markets where Google's Gemini foundational models power the Galaxy AI. The Chinese version leverages Baidu's Ernie chatbot, which was launched just last August.
The AI capabilities of the Chinese Galaxy S24 include translation, summarisation and text formatting – mirroring the features introduced during the phone's US launch. Real-time call translation and a version of Google's Circle to Search feature are also part of the package.
Samsung Electronics China, in collaboration with Baidu, highlighted that the upgraded Samsung Note Assistant, now leveraging Ernie's understanding and generation capabilities, can translate and summarise content with intelligent organization at the click of a button.
This substitution of AI providers is a strategic response to Google's limited presence in China. Android devices are widely distributed in the country; however, they come without the inclusion of Google apps and services that are integral to the operating system elsewhere. Baidu, in particular, had to secure approval from the Chinese government before launching Ernie.
The move comes at a time when Samsung's foothold in the Chinese market has significantly diminished over the past decade. According to a recent IDC report, Samsung did not secure a position in the top five brands for mobile shipments in 2023. In 2013, Samsung held the top spot as the largest smartphone manufacturer in China with a substantial 20 per cent market share. However, by 2018, this share plummeted to a mere 1 per cent, where it has lingered since.
