You couldn’t swing a virtual cat without hitting an ongoing MWC 2024 exhibitor about generative AI. From Samsung and Google AI-powered photo editing and searching to Qualcomm looking to put AI in cars and make AI wearable Humane.
Sure, a lot of the tech on display was cool, but I don’t think the real game-changing potential of generative AI is in the obvious stuff. A skilled photographer and editor will almost certainly want to do their own edits rather than rely on AI manipulation – or just want to nail a shot in the first place. And writers like me would rather tap an article than try to understand an article written by ChatGPT.
Instead, from the various talks and roundtables I participated in at MWC, I think AI will be most useful when it’s helping people do things they can’t easily do. Can, learn or even know about them.
A simple example of how Qualcomm pushes the use of AI in its modem chips, the latest Snapdragon X80 leans on a dedicated AI Tensor Accelerator to speed up connectivity, reduce power consumption can be optimized, and generally improve latency and coverage. Hardly the sexiest of tech products, but in terms of consumers, it means more efficient Wi-Fi and mobile internet connectivity with lower power consumption in smartphones and other 5G-enabled devices; With Qualcomm providing modem chips for all major phone brands, you can expect the Snapdragon X80 to pop up in future Galaxy S-series phones and the iPhone 16.
Likewise, the Snapdragon X80 can be used in so-called Internet of Things (IoT) devices and applications, which can improve the performance of smart sensors and networks in smart cities. You might not see or feel it happening, but it could mean smart traffic monitoring, feeding back into apps like Google Maps. Or simply fast and reliable mmWave 5G connectivity; Basically things that work in the background to make one’s daily life easier.
Live Translation, already a creative AI feature on the Google Pixel 8 series and Samsung Galaxy S24 family, is a clear example of AI being used to help us deal with things we don’t know about. Ya know, though I have yet to try it.
Then there’s the use of generative AI in cars, which is particularly interesting because it will allow people to talk to their cars. Qualcomm showed off its Snapdragon Digital Chassis platform where people can ask car-based generative AI questions about everything from where to get food nearby to what a certain warning light on the dashboard means.
Getting recommendations isn’t a big deal since Google Maps already does that and it’s included in Android Auto. But getting information about what might be wrong with your car without the driver needing to find the manual or go to the garage can be a fantastic next step for a car tech. Additionally, Generative AI can supercharge voice commands and make it much easier for drivers to activate various settings and options without taking their eyes off the road or taking their hands off the wheel.
Generative AI in robots also caught my eye, with the almost uncanny Amica robot appearing at MWC to the delight of attendees who threw all sorts of questions at the humanoid bot.
Here, AI is not necessarily used to help with anything in particular, but rather to power a smart machine that is useful for all sorts of tasks. I could see Ameca being used to provide 24-hour concierge service at hotels and airports – not to replace humans, but to fill the gap between shift changes and quiet hours.
Or perhaps the next-generation Amica could be used as a companion for people who are in social care or need care but still want their independence. At a time when social care workers are in short supply (at least in the UK), an AI-powered robot could at least help with staff shortages.
I have no doubt that we’ll continue to hear about AI in consumer tech, and I’d bet a healthy amount of money that the next-gen iPhone will have some generative AI tools. But I want to see how creative AI can quietly improve service performance, simplify ways to surface difficult information, and help people improve their lives, rather than pictures of dogs on the moon. Instead of tearing down or creating overly primitive images.