Samsung and LG are teaming up to develop an AI-powered smartphone that integrates LG Uplus's ixi-O call assistant with Samsung's Galaxy AI, as reported by the Korea Economic Daily on November 21. LG is set to invest up to 3 trillion won (approximately USD 2.1 billion) in AI technologies to support this collaboration. The upcoming device, potentially named the Galaxy ixi-O, will target South Korean users initially, with a planned launch alongside the Galaxy S25 series in January 2025. Initially exclusive to LG Uplus customers, the smartphone will feature the ixi-O AI assistant, capable of real-time voice phishing detection, call summarization, and voice-to-text conversion—all processed directly on the device. While the phone is expected to remain exclusive to South Korea at first, similar AI features are likely to expand to other mobile carriers in the region.
In addition to the AI phone, Samsung has unveiled its second-generation Generative AI model, Samsung Gauss 2, which will enhance Galaxy AI functionalities. Gauss 2 is a multimodal AI system that processes various types of input, including images, code, and text, offering significant improvements in performance and efficiency over its predecessor. Samsung plans to integrate Gauss 2 across its product lineup, including smartphones, tablets, and home appliances. Already boosting internal productivity, Gauss 2 is expected to play a pivotal role in the upcoming AI phone collaboration with LG Uplus.
As AI technology advances, global smartphone penetration of AI features is projected to reach 13% in 2024, with expectations to rise to 25% by 2025 and exceed 60% by 2028, according to the Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute (MIC), a Taipei-based research organization and division of Taiwan’s Institute for Information Industry.