Experiencing Life Without Samsung AI Features

Samsung markets its AI tools as helpful assistants, but I grew curious about how my Galaxy could operate without them. In an interest to reclaim a more hands-on experience, I decided to deactivate all AI features for three days. This article details my journey of AI detox and the surprising implications.

Assessing My Dependence on AI

To gauge my reliance on these tools, I explored settings to turn off Galaxy AI:

• Open Settings.
• Tap on Galaxy AI.
• Toggle off features individually.
• Optionally enable Process Data Only On Device.
• Check specific app settings for features buried in submenus.

The Early Days Without AI

The initial morning without Galaxy AI thrust me back to a time when smartphones were less intuitive. With predictive text and autocorrect disabled, typing became arduous. Corrections turned into a high-stakes affair as I found myself manually fixing errors. My confidence for sending professional messages plummeted as I second-guessed every adjective.

Later, I confronted missed AI-assisted conveniences like the browsing summaries typically generated by Browsing Assist in the Internet app. Without this aid, each article demanded a complete read, challenging my usual efficiency.

Photo Editing Struggles

By day two, the absence of AI Edit Suggestions became palpable during my photo sessions. Without the assistance of Photo Assist, I was unable to quickly enhance images. Although I have some editing skills, I missed the convenience of generative suggestions for improving photos and optimizing composition.

In an instance where a jogger photobombed my shot, I wished for the Object Eraser feature that could have easily removed him from the frame. I found myself accepting the imperfect shots.

Voice Commands Gone

Disconnecting from Gemini meant voice commands like “Call mom” or “What’s the weather?” no longer functioned. This facilitated a return to tapping application manually, transforming streamlined interactions into a cumbersome series of taps and swipes. Additionally, I lost the ability to control smart home routines with simple phrases, a change that detracted from the convenience that had become expected.

Small AI Features Make Big Differences

Some features—like the Now Brief—felt less impactful upon their removal, while others created significant disruptions. For instance, losing Circle to Search turned what used to be a two-second task into a convoluted process of taking screenshots and initiating image searches manually.

These were features that didn’t seem flashy but rather served to streamline my daily interactions with the device.

The Upside of an AI Detox

Despite the challenges, a couple of positives emerged. The phone seemed more serene without constant notifications blipping at me. This change made it feel more controlled, enhancing focus. Battery life improved slightly, likely due to decreased server pings.

Reintegrating Essential AI Tools

By lunchtime on day three, my patience waned. I reactivated Gemini, recognizing its role in enhancing my overall phone experience. Next was Writing Assist, which proved indispensable for composition accuracy and speed. The ease of photo editing returned with Photo Assist shortly after; I decided to keep Now Brief off.

I found a balance—retaining the tools that aided efficiency while releasing those that felt intrusive.

For those cautious about privacy, Samsung’s Process data only on device option allows many AI functions to happen locally, presenting a satisfactory compromise that minimizes reliance on cloud services.