Adrian JohnsonTLDR:
- Samsung’s new Galaxy S24 lineup in China will use Baidu’s Ernie AI instead of Google AI for features like translation and summaries.
- Baidu’s Ernie chatbot, which launched in August, will power AI translation, summarization, and text formatting features on the Chinese version of the Galaxy S24.
- The substitution of Google AI with Baidu’s Ernie is due to Google’s limited presence in China.
Samsung has launched its Galaxy S24 lineup in China, and the company has chosen to use Chinese tech giant Baidu’s Ernie AI to power its Galaxy AI features, according to CNBC. This decision means that Google’s Gemini foundational models, which are used in Western markets, are not being used in the Chinese version. Baidu’s Ernie chatbot, which launched in August, will handle translation, summarization, and text formatting features on the Chinese version of the Galaxy S24. The phones will also include real-time call translation and a version of Google’s Circle to Search feature.
The reason behind this substitution is likely due to Google’s limited presence in China. Android devices are widely sold in the country, but they do not come with Google apps and services that are standard on devices from other regions. Baidu had to obtain approval from the Chinese government before launching Ernie.
In recent years, Samsung’s position in the Chinese market has declined significantly. In 2023, the company did not even make the top five brands for mobile shipments in the country, according to a report from IDC. In 2013, Samsung was the largest smartphone manufacturer in China with a 20% market share, but its share has dropped to just 1% in 2018 and remained there since. Samsung’s partnerships with local content firms are part of its efforts to rebuild its business in China.