In a strategic move to enhance its presence in China, Samsung Electronics has announced a key partnership with Baidu, featuring the integration of Baidu’s Ernie Bot in its upcoming Galaxy S24 smartphone series. Samsung aims to position the Galaxy S24 as a trailblazer in AI smartphones, leveraging Baidu’s artificial intelligence (AI) tools for text summarization, organization, and translation.

The collaboration extends to Ernie Bot providing backend support for Samsung’s innovative “circle to search” feature, a functionality handled by Google’s Alphabet in other global markets. While Google’s Android software serves as the foundation for the majority of smartphones in China, the absence of Google’s mobile services and app store has created a niche for local alternatives. In this context, Baidu’s Ernie AI emerges as a significant player, poised to rival global AI models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

The integration adds to Samsung’s growing attention on China

The deal marks a major milestone for Baidu, as the company’s adoption of Ernie AI positions it as a prominent player in the Chinese smartphone market. Samsung, with its foldable devices offering a distinctive edge in the premium segment, is keen on expanding its market share in China, which is the world’s largest smartphone market. The deeper integration with local services, particularly Baidu’s Ernie Bot, is seen as a strategic move to entice more consumers to make the switch from competitors like Apple’s iPhone or local brands.

As Samsung makes strides in innovation and localization, the collaboration with Baidu highlights the company’s commitment to providing a unique and advanced user experience in the dynamic Chinese smartphone landscape. The Galaxy S24 series is anticipated to showcase the synergy between Samsung’s hardware prowess and Baidu’s cutting-edge AI capabilities, setting a new benchmark in the realm of AI-driven smartphones.