Xiaomi takes inspiration from the vision set by Apple, Oppo, Samsung, and Google to bring cutting-edge technology into the hands of people. The company is likely to bring generative AI features with its mid-range devices priced around ₹40,000 in India.
Expanding Generative AI Reach
Xiaomi recently launched the Xiaomi 14T in Europe, running on Google’s Gemini AI suite, showcasing its dedication to generative AI. The features of the new phone will be nearly identical to those found on Google Pixel devices, including the ‘Circle to Search’ feature.
There has been no word on an official timeline. However, the rollout of generative AI features across the Xiaomi Indian portfolio will likely happen alongside next year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The company can effectively stay competitive in the market and capitalize on the increasing demand for AI-based functionalities.
Market Impact And Consumer Adoption
Xiaomi now dominates India, with its share crossing 13.5% of smartphone sales in the June quarter. Hence, this generative AI announcement assumes importance. Other brands might do something similar going forward and adapt to changing consumer preferences.
Xiaomi plans to enhance its marketing capabilities to better understand market demand and consumer willingness to pay for AI features. Already, the company has made use of AI on its smartphones as a form of marketing. However, this generative AI is quite different.
Overcoming Price Barriers
Currently, the entry price for generative AI smartphones is relatively high, averaging around $850. Chinese company Oppo plans to introduce over 100 generative AI features across all price ranges by the end of this year.
Brands are aiming to expand their product reach by making it more accessible to a broader consumer segment. In this respect, smartphone manufacturers can promote wider adoption and expand functionality through freemium models or subscriptions for more advanced features.
Future Of Generative AI In Smartphones
Though certainly not a critical reason for buying smartphones, generative AI adds an overall polish to the user experience. As it grows in capability, features may eventually be incorporated into the user interface of smartphones, smoothing out interactions even further.
Generative AI’s advanced capabilities, like object removal or addition, may incur costs through advertisements or paid subscriptions. This model allows the company to recoup some of that investment in partnerships and engineering.
Xiaomi’s decision to democratize advanced generative AI features on smartphones is expected to significantly impact the industry. The company is offering AI-powered features at lower prices to encourage widespread adoption and popularize these functionalities among users. It is quite likely that the trend will show other brand players following suit as the market changes.
