Samsung to launch AI assistant service for Galaxy S8

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd has began moves for a major come back with its Galaxy S8, after production and sales of its Note 7 was halted due to explosion and inflamation of the phone’s battery.

Reuters reports that Samsung took a big hit with the malfunctioning of the Note 7 and was determined to regain its glory with the S8.

Samsung said on Sunday that the new device would come equipped with artificial intelligence digital assistant service.

The world’s top smartphone maker in October announced the acquisition of Viv Labs Inc, a firm run by a co-creator of Apple Inc’s Siri voice assistant program.

The company plans to integrate AI platform, called Viv, into the Galaxy smartphones and expand voice-assistant services to home appliances and wearable technology devices.

The company banks on the Galaxy S8 to he help it rebound after the failure of its Note 7.

Meanwhile, the Note 7 is expected to hiyt its profit of $5.4 billion in the first quarter of 2017

Investors and analysts say the new Galaxy phone must be a strong device in order for Samsung to win back customers and revive earnings momentum.

Samsung did not comment on what types of services would be offered through the AI assistant that will be launched on the Galaxy S8, which is expected to go on sale early next year. It said the AI assistant would allow customers to use third-party service seamlessly.

“Developers can attach and upload services to our agent,” said Samsung Executive Vice President Rhee In-jong during a briefing, referring to its AI assistant.

“Even if Samsung doesn’t do anything on its own, the more services that get attached the smarter this agent will get, learn more new services and provide them to end-users with ease.”

Technology firms are locked in an increasingly heated race to make AI good enough to let consumers interact with their devices more naturally, especially via voice.

Alphabet Inc’s Google is widely considered to be the leader in AI, but others including Amazon.com, Apple and Microsoft Corp have launched their own offerings including voice-powered digital assistants.