Samsung beats Google in adding AI to its wireless earbuds, but there’s a catch
Language translation in your years
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Samsungwent big with theGalaxy AIfeatures added to theSamsung Galaxy S24phones, and those features are heading to other Samsung devices too – not justolder handsets, but also certain Galaxy Buds models.
As per an email sent to users (viaAndroid Authority), theGalaxy Buds 2 Pro, theGalaxy Buds 2, and theGalaxy Buds FEare going to get some of the key Galaxy AI tricks in an over-the-air update that’s rolling out now.
Specifically, those tricks are Live Translation and Interpretation, so you can use your wireless earbuds to help with a real-time conversation in a foreign language. It seems the Babel fish originally envisioned some 40 years ago inThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxyis now more or less a reality.
There is a catch, at least for the time being – you’re still going to need a Galaxy S24 phone to use these features, though that may change as these AI features make their way out to older phones. Samsung also says that these features work on the actual devices, so no internet connection is needed.
AI for the people
Only yesterday we heard thatGoogle is planning to add features from its Gemini AI model to headphonesthat work withGoogleAssistant – headphones like theGoogle Pixel Buds Proor theSony WF-1000XM5, for example – though this was based on code hidden in the Google app for Android, rather than any official announcement.
As Samsung’s AI features are rolling out to compatible Galaxy Buds earbuds right now, it looks to have beaten Google to pushing AI into people’s ears – though we wouldn’t expect Google to be too far behind, considering the pace with which it’s pushing out new AI products (such asGoogle One AI Premium).
Next-gen AI is clearly going to be central to smartphones and every other gadget in the coming years. WhileAppleis a little behind the curve when it comes to these features, we’reexpecting iOS 18 to change thatlater this year.
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It also means something else to consider when you’re considering buying future products, such as the rumoredSamsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: just how much AI is included on board, and are you going to find any of it useful?
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Dave is a freelance tech journalist who has been writing about gadgets, apps and the web for more than two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you’ll find him covering news, features and reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the best in the business over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other places besides, as well as being many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.
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