AI is completely revolutionizing how smartphones are used in day-to-day life. Previously, mobiles ran on software, allowing for limited function and usability, but the integration of AI into our most reliable pieces of tech is providing unprecedented benefits. Rather than software, AI uses advanced algorithms, enabling it to mimic human intelligence and aid our everyday lives in countless ways.
Whether it's a virtual assistant or tailored shopping recommendations, app stores are flooded with useful AI-driven tools. In fact, there are over 2 million Iphone AI apps available to apple users that can positively impact a wide-variety of day to day and specific tasks (Source: https://www.techopedia.com/ai/best-ai-apps-for-iphone)
Let’s take a look at six of the best uses for AI on mobiles.
When told to think of AI, one of the first things that comes to mind for many people is the popular virtual assistants available to users. Technology with catchy names such as Siri and Alexa are already a major aid to many mobile users.
These apps are not only limited to providing assistance solely on mobile. By purchasing additional hardware, certain assistants like Amazon’s Alexa and Samsung's Bixby Home are able to complete tasks and change aspects of your house. These virtual assistants can take a call, dim the lights, answer questions, or start and stop timers after simply receiving a voice command to do so.
Not only that, but recent developments in virtual assistants suggest that this technology is about to get significantly smarter. According to the major tech company Qualcomm, the near future could see these assistants utilizing a mobile camera when requested to do so. For example, individuals will be able to point their camera at a restaurant bill and have their virtual assistant split it between multiple people while also taking into account a tip if desired.
Many smartphones come with their virtual assistants built in, but others, such as DataBot and Hound, can be downloaded from mobile app stores.
Chatbots are similar to virtual assistants but are usually unable to do specific tasks. This does not make them inferior, however, as chatbots have their own wide range of advantages. Chatbots are forms of AI that can be downloaded onto mobiles and serve almost infinite purposes. They can simply be utilized for human-like conversation, but are also an extremely effective way of gaining information.
Unlike an internet search which only pays attention to keywords, Chatbots understand the nuance of a prompt. This means that their responses are more tailored towards the request and therefore often massively reduce the time it takes to find an answer.
Additionally, Chatbots are continuously learning, so the more they are used, the more accurate and reliable they become.
There are many different chatbots available on mobile. ChatGPT, with its friendly attitude and detailed responses, is by far the most popular, but it is not the only option. Other Chatbots such as Microsoft's Co-Pilot and Jasper, have different qualities that may make them more appealing to different people.
This complex process involves AI ‘seeing’ through a device's camera and reporting on what has been viewed. This can have numerous benefits for mobile users, as many of these apps are capable of identifying objects, recognizing people, and even translating languages.
There are multiple kinds of AI-powered image recognition apps available on mobile, some with more generic purposes, and some tailored towards specific tasks. For example, Google Lens allows users to ‘search what you see’ meaning that if someone were to point their camera at a specific object, say a can of Coca-Cola, the AI would then allow them to search for Coca-Cola, giving the user information on the drink, or enabling them to purchase it online.
On the other hand, some image recognition apps for mobiles are less useful for generic searches, but much more advanced at completing a specific task. For example, the app, PictureThis–Plant Identifier uses AI to assess the welfare of plants based on their appearance, prompting the user on how best to care for them.
Staying healthy is an individual experience. Certain workouts or generic diets are not tailored toward those with specific illnesses or different needs. When AI is integrated into health plans, non-specific advice is eradicated.
This is because AI can go above and beyond just general health advice. Certain mobile applications are able to monitor an individual’s heart rate, create tailored sleeping plans, or even assess a mole or mark for its risk of becoming skin cancer.
App stores are flooded with apps tailored towards all different kinds of health and well-being. Fitness apps such as Athlytic and Freeletics tailor specific workouts for their users. Whereas apps like Wysa and Sonde enable their users to work on their mental health and access the support they need.
AI has become a major asset for both retail companies and their customers. From integrated chatbots that provide answers to customer queries, to AI try-on features that enable users to sample an item of clothing before making a purchase, AI has revolutionized the way we shop.
Mobile apps that integrate AI create a much more personalized shopping experience for their users. Products can be tailored towards the person, meaning AI can work in much the same way as a personal shopper in a brick-and-mortar establishment.
Different retailers integrate AI into their mobile apps for different purposes. For example, the major beauty company Sephora uses Augmented Reality (AR) to allow users to sample makeup before purchasing it. On the other hand, the clothes retailer H&M has an intelligent visual search option enabling users to take a picture of an item of clothing that they like and get tailored recommendations based on that item.
Another area in which AI plays a pivotal role is the realm of translation. Mobile users often find themselves needing to translate something, whether it is a page from a book written in another language, or a road sign in a country they are visiting.
AI translation is so effective because of the way AI is able to learn as it grows, meaning it can pick up on nuances of translation and become more accurate.
Many different kinds of translation apps available to mobile users effectively integrate AI. For example, the app DeepL enables the quick and accurate translation of 30 different languages. Text can be written directly into the app, or taken from a picture, but the app can also convert documents and PDF from one language to another seamlessly.
The future appears to be driven by AI. All major mobile companies are working to integrate it
seamlessly into their devices, and for good reason. Our mobiles are often our first point of contact when we have a query or require assistance, and AI can aid us much quicker and much more effectively than the options that were available before.
