Despite my own fatigue, these three Galaxy S25 features actually seem useful

It can be difficult to see much value in A large number of artificial intelligence Features technology companies have dumped on us In recent years. Do I really want AI Write my script And emails? How many times am I? In reality need to Summarize PDF? he Custom emojis Which dog in a Santa hat riding a skateboard (while cute) is really worth dropping hundreds of dollars on the latest AI-Supragged phone?

Maybe companies will pick it up AI fatigueOr perhaps technology is simply smarter and more accessible. But during it Unscrew The event on Wednesday, Samsung unveiled A large number of AI-powered features That the company says can pick up our habits, offer helpful suggestions and handle mundane tasks via S25 series. The focus isn’t just on the potential of AI, but it also shows how it can fit into more practical applications like simplifying everyday activities and navigating your phone’s functions — all without necessarily drawing your attention to AI in the background.

It’s a subtle shift, but one that had me saying “Is AI the only party trick?” Sarcasm aside for a moment. Sure, many of Samsung’s AI features, which were announced last year and also present on the Galaxy S25, are trivial (but fun), such as Photo studio To create stylized images and Draw a picture To turn your doodles into AI generated objects. But there are also a few functions that could make the presence of AI more natural – and Reflect what people actually want to see on their devices.

We’ll have to see how these capabilities play out in the real world once we review Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus. But for now, here are three new AI-powered features that piqued my interest and look promising.

Galaxy AI will learn your habits and make suggestions

To be useful, AI needs to get to know you. The Galaxy AI seems eager to do just that, then pops in any relevant suggestions or information to simplify your routine.

Imagine that you are someone who likes to check the weather every morning, then look at your calendar, and then read the day’s news. The Galaxy AI will oblige, and within the now brief widget, it will show you the weather, remind you of the day’s meetings and share articles you might be interested in when you wake up, all without you asking.

Amid the proliferation of mobile AI features, this is the one that seems to be relatively practical and useful. It seems like taking advantage of what AI does best — learning — while applying that newfound knowledge in a way that can best serve you, all without being overbearing or unnecessary.

When I try this feature out for myself, I’m curious what habits of mine it picks up and whether, in fact, I feel understood in my daily routine. (Is there an option “Instantly opens Tiktok the second you wake up” here??)

Gemini is at your service, all with the (long) press of a button

Google’s Gemini AI Assistant now makes it easier to perform multiple actions with a single command, like finding a nearby Italian restaurant and sending the results to a friend, or detecting when an event is added to your calendar and then texting your friends about it. All you have to do is long press the right side power button and state your request, and Gemini will do the rest. This echoes what every major tech company is trying to do, from Apple to Google to Amazon: Turn artificial intelligence into your personal agent.

I tend to be wary of AI taking over tasks where it’s completely capable (not that I’m a control freak, but I often struggle to see the value), but this is something I can actually see as useful and time-saving. Instead of navigating through multiple apps, simply stating a command and letting the AI ​​agent take control seems rather tempting – as long as it can do it well.

Find out more about the conversation in Gallery and Settings

Many of us take a lot From the photos on our phones, making this selection just the shot He knows In your gallery it is more difficult. Traditional research only gets you so far.

Samsung is flattening Gallery search by making it more conversational, so you can say something like “Find photos of me in a pink coat in London, for example.” You may also be more amenable to calling up a wider range of results, such as simply saying, “Search for photos of me in a pink coat” to see all the different ways you’ve styled them. apple and Google They’ve added similar functionality to its photo apps, and it’s good to see Samsung catching up.

This also applies to finding the right setting in the Galaxy’s huge menu. Instead of sifting through each part to try to find what you’re looking for, you can also write something like, “Help me find settings that make my eyes feel less stressed.” Then your phone may suggest turning on Eye Comfort Shield to reduce blue light and adjust screen color throughout the day.

The idea is to cut down on the hassle of sifting through endless images or menu options to find exactly what you need.

Check out more AI features on the S25 lineup

One of the AI ​​tools I’m most curious about is Samsung’s AI Select feature, which can be accessed via a panel on the edge of the S25’s screen. AI Select can detect what’s being displayed on screen and then make suggestions, such as converting part of a YouTube video into GIF text or summarizing text on a web page. It can also help with photo editing suggestions.

This is something I’ll definitely have to explore when reviewing the S25 and S25 Plus, because based on Samsung’s presentation, it’s not entirely clear how much value could be added by this gadget, or how often I might feel like having to access it. But maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Be sure to check back for CNET’s in-depth reviews of the Galaxy S25 lineup, featuring our impressions of everything from the hardware to the software to the AI ​​and everything in between.