AI has grow to be a staple of nearly each new cellphone, however that does not imply it is a centerpiece of most individuals’s lives. A CNET survey finds that simply 11% of US smartphone homeowners select to improve their gadgets due to AI options, a 7% drop from an analogous survey final 12 months. Further, about 3 in 10 individuals do not discover cell AI useful and do not need to see extra options added. Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content material and lab-based opinions. Add CNET as a most popular Google supply on Chrome.This comes as tech giants proceed to roll out new AI capabilities. Google loaded its new Pixel 10 sequence with contemporary AI options, as did Samsung when it unveiled each the Galaxy S25 lineup and the Z Fold 7 and Flip 7. Apple has additionally debuted a handful of Apple Intelligence updates as it really works to play catch-up with AI leaders like Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. And with its subsequent iPhone reveal slated for Sept. 9, it is doable we might hear extra about its upcoming AI efforts. Watch this: Phones Are Loaded With AI, So Why Don’t We Care?
04:56 These survey outcomes spotlight the mismatch between cellphone makers’ bullish method to AI and shoppers’ normal apprehension towards the quickly advancing expertise. Despite pushes from firms like Apple, Samsung and Google so as to add a rising listing of AI options into their cell gadgets, most individuals proceed to care about three core areas when looking for a brand new cellphone: value (62%), longer battery life (54%) and extra storage (39%). Another prime consideration is the digicam, with 30% of respondents citing that as a prime precedence. Last 12 months’s survey echoed these identical main considerations. In 2024, the largest motivation for US smartphone homeowners to improve their gadgets was longer battery life (61%), adopted by extra storage (46%) and higher digicam options (38%). Just 18% mentioned their major motivator was AI integrations. This 12 months, it seems that quantity is even decrease, at the same time as AI capabilities grow to be extra ubiquitous. AI is not the one advertising and marketing tactic shoppers aren’t shopping for into. Despite current slim cellphone releases like Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge and rumors a few skinny “iPhone 17 Air,” simply 7% of respondents mentioned a thinner cellphone would inspire them to improve. Still, firms are possible to make use of the contemporary kind issue to attempt to rake in additional {dollars}. At this 12 months’s Mobile World Congress, skinny telephones just like the S25 Edge and Tecno’s Spark Slim cellphone idea stole the highlight. Oppo’s Find N5, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Honor’s Magic V5 flex skinny, foldable designs that will enchantment to somebody who desires a bigger gadget with out the majority. CNET’s survey suggests most shoppers aren’t swayed by these eye-catching designs, however that might change as extra individuals get their palms on the gadgets and if a thin iPhone involves fruition. A(I) powerful promote AI has grow to be the buzzword of virtually each tech product launch and keynote over the previous few years. AI-powered capabilities like writing instruments, picture modifying and smarter voice assistants have leveled up cell gadgets into much more highly effective machines. In flip, this has ramped up the already-fierce competitors amongst key cell gamers. Google has woven Gemini into its Pixel gadgets, in addition to different Android telephones from firms like Samsung and Motorola. Apple launched its suite of Apple Intelligence options with the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, although its bigger AI ambitions have stalled and it lags behind its opponents. It’s not simply premium flagship gadgets which can be piling on the generative AI options. Mid-tier and finances telephones are hopping on the bandwagon, too. For occasion, the $600 iPhone 16E, $500 Pixel 9A and $650 Galaxy S24 FE pack their justifiable share of AI options that echo what you will discover on their pricier siblings. All of this proves that regardless of how a lot you are prepared to spend, you possibly can’t escape the AI hype. Based on CNET’s survey, “hype” might actually be the phrase many individuals ascribe to the current flood of generative AI options. Just 13% of individuals say they use AI on their cellphone to summarize or write textual content, 8% say they faucet into AI picture creation instruments and 7% use AI on their cellphone for photograph modifying. Additionally, 20% admit to not even understanding the right way to use the AI options on their handset. Mobile AI options typically come at no additional price to customers, however that might quickly change. Samsung, for one, says on its web site that Galaxy AI options “will be provided for free until the end of 2025 on supported Samsung Galaxy devices.” Apple can be anticipated to ultimately begin charging for a few of its AI-powered iPhone options. You’ll additionally must pay to unlock Gemini’s full energy throughout Google’s apps. Amid a lot subscription fatigue, that could possibly be a troublesome promote. Half of individuals surveyed say they don’t seem to be prepared to pay extra cash to entry AI options on their cellphone. That’s up 5% over final 12 months. Privacy is a rising concern as AI expands its attain throughout our gadgets. Just over 40% of smartphone customers are frightened about privateness in the case of utilizing AI on their smartphone, up 7% from final 12 months. And that is largely no matter age; boomers are essentially the most involved (45%), however concern from Gen Z (41%) and Gen X (41%) can be notably excessive. That’s to not say everybody’s dismissive of AI on their handset. Fourteen p.c of individuals say they discover AI options useful and are excited to faucet into extra of these capabilities on their cellphone. Gen Z (25%) and millennials (16%) specific essentially the most curiosity in utilizing AI on their smartphone. Smart assistants get an AI help, nevertheless it’s not sufficient Smart assistants are a technique tech firms are hoping to make AI your on a regular basis companion. Gemini on Android telephones is more and more able to dealing with extra duties, from brainstorming to finishing up features inside apps. Apple additionally has plans to make use of AI to supercharge Siri, however that rollout has been delayed indefinitely. According to CNET’s survey, 61% of iPhone homeowners use Siri, whereas 41% of Pixel homeowners use the Gemini assistant. Just 10% and 9% of Siri and Gemini customers respectively say they name on the good assistants daily. As AI turns into extra succesful and as firms additional promote these skills, it’s going to be attention-grabbing to see whether or not these interactions enhance. Methodology CNET commissioned YouGov Plc. to conduct the survey. All figures, until in any other case acknowledged, are from YouGov Plc. The whole pattern dimension was 2,201 adults, of whom 2,129 personal a smartphone. Fieldwork was undertaken May 13 to 15, 2025. The survey was carried out on-line. The figures have been weighted and are consultant of all US adults (aged 18 plus). Watch this: Introducing iOS 26 at WWDC25
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