Apologies for being the one to bring it up. Smartphone advancements have hit a plateau as they pivot towards embracing artificial intelligence. Samsung, Google, and Apple have centered AI as their main promotional theme for each elite phone in 2024. The emphasis wasn’t on sleek hardware or a smartphone’s competence as a reliable daily computing tool. It was about acclimating users to the impending AI wave that will undoubtedly compel them to upgrade their phones to avoid isolation.

This year was fraught with flashy feature additions and the justification that a new smartphone will be necessary to align with the forthcoming trends. In terms of design, this resulted in a series of phones that didn’t make any groundbreaking changes. The Galaxy S24 Ultra appears nearly identical to the Galaxy S23 Ultra but with slightly more angular edges. Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro doesn’t differ much in appearance from the iPhone 15 Pro—you can’t distinguish them from each other’s backside. As for the Google Pixel 9 Pro, it features a modified camera bar on the rear, though from the front, it now resembles an iPhone, with the rest of the Pixel range focusing more on Gemini than anything else.

I’m intrigued by the potential of AI correctly functioning, whether I’m launching an app to accomplish tasks or getting lost in endless scrolling. But what is the cost of giving precedence to AI-enhanced performance above all else? Can devices maintain their slim profile if energy use becomes the focal point? Won’t there need to be compromises for larger batteries and extra components as AI becomes the primary energy consumer? These are questions circulating as we transition into 2025.

The Rapid Ascent of AI

Samsung commenced 2024 right from the start with Galaxy AI. It already performed some tasks that Google’s Gemini claimed to do, but this time it showcased a novel feature alongside: Circle to Search, which emerged as the standout feature on Android this year, even before Android 15 entered developer preview. Samsung and Google collaborated for the Galaxy S24 launch event to keep their narrative focused, expressing that Android would serve as a conduit for the AI developments occurring behind the scenes.

Google followed suit, sprinkling the year with significant Pixel Drops that brought features like Circle to Search, Call Screen, and, recently, Gemini extensions. When its developer conference took place in the spring, it became evident that the direction of the Android platform was principally focused on AI. Android was no longer the headline; it concentrated instead on illustrating how Gemini would enhance user interaction. The clearest indication of this for me was when I initiated the Gemini beta, designating it as my device’s default assistant. It disrupted some of my Google Assistant-enabled gadgets, such as the Roav Bolt, which I use for hands-free phone commands while driving. Thankfully, whatever Google remedied behind the scenes has now resolved it, although I had to wait half a year for Gemini’s full rollout. It was a stark reminder of the consequences when the company behind your phone platform abruptly shifts towards something unfamiliar.

There was an anticipation among some that Apple might resist the AI trend. Typically, Apple takes what Google implements and critiques it, explaining how it’s not feasible because it would compromise the product’s integrity. However, Cupertino caught us off guard with Apple Intelligence at WWDC, revealing it was integrating AI into its systems in its inherently Apple manner: entirely rebranding the collective AI endeavor and presenting it as a distinctive, custom technology, despite continuing to require assistance from ChatGPT to handle more complex commands. At least the company remains true to itself. With the branding “Apple Intelligence,” I need to fully write it out sometimes when referencing it, aiding in avoiding the repetitive use of “AI.” It’s not artificial intelligence; it’s Apple’s intelligence.

The Price of Visual Creation

Now, months after all the fresh smartphones have made their debut for this latest cycle, we have been left with a range of high-end devices from Samsung, Google, and Apple, all dedicated to promoting this new approach to predictive computing. Each platform houses an image-generation app for creating pictures: Image Playground for iOS and Pixel Studio for Pixel gadgets. Thank you, I suppose, but this is not quite what people imagined when they sought photographic assistance. Instead, I had hoped to see better lenses added to the backs of these devices since they already cost as much as a decent mid-range digital camera. I was even prepared to give up on slimness, understanding the hardware needed to enlarge for a bigger display. Instead, I received a generative AI suite that transforms my images into scenes reminiscent of a Hallmark movie poster.

I’m not denying that cameras have improved on Samsung, Google, and Apple’s gadgets. Each passing year heralds such enhancements with every fresh smartphone model; everything gets slightly finer. This time, though, all three heavily rely on AI to work its magic to create the image. The Pixel’s camera setup entirely rests on the notion that AI can seamlessly do what you would attempt in an editing studio. Apple uses algorithms to guarantee that whenever you hit the iPhone 16’s new Camera Control switch, the photo remains sharp.

Here’s the Catch-22 of snap creation on the mobile device in this AI-centric age. Although AI and algorithms assist with battery efficiency by reducing non-essential processes and automatically refining settings based on the display’s activity, developing images within the applications consumes those same resources, even when sourcing from the cloud. High volumes of memory are essential for a smartphone to perform these functions. Consequently, we now witness phones packaged with 16GB of RAM as the norm, Pixel 9 Pro included. All the additional hardware to fuel AI will eventually elevate production expenses. We are already observing escalated price points on iPhones and Android gadgets. It’s not solely due to economic factors.

That doesn’t imply next year’s phones will be bulky and unwieldy. They likely will arrive within the same sleek glass frame as this year. They will all showcase large, vivid screens with high refresh rates and vibrant hues. They will still slip into men’s trousers. They could even be slimmer than they were next year, as suggested by rumors regarding the iPhone 17 and the Galaxy S25 Ultra. There’s even speculation that Samsung’s foldable models might expand to cater to different preferences. What remains intriguing is observing how each producer will juggle the demands of aligning with industry competition requirements and consumer utility desires. If it means sweltering smartphones that deplete midway through the day, the AI isn’t worth it.