Samsung Seeks Redemption With AI-Infused Galaxy S8 Smartphone

Samsung Electronics Co. plans to equip its next Galaxy S smartphones with a Siri-like digital assistant, seeking to make a strong comeback after the global debacle that precipitated the death of its flawed Note 7 lineup. Samsung, which last month acquired U.S.-based artificial-intelligence software company Viv Labs Inc., said the Galaxy S8 slated for next year will come with AI-enabled features "significantly differentiated" from those of Apple Inc.'s Siri or Google, executive vice president Rhee In-jong told reporters. Those services now offer up potentially useful information from the weather to flight times based on user activity. "It will be significantly differentiated from the current services we see in the market now," Rhee said of the S8's features. He said last month the company plans to embed Viv's technology in other electronics and home appliances beyond phones. Global technology players are vying to build devices attuned to users' lifestyles and daily behavior.