Artificial Intelligence next key growth area for smartphones

"We see AI making smart devices even smarter with improved user experiences," says Ian Fogg (pictured right), director of mobile and telecom analysis at IHS Markit. "Existing AI agents like Apple's Siri and Google Assistant will expand across the industry, complemented by embedded AI in all parts of mobile devices from cameras, to audio, to machine." "Smartphones will both be the interface for AI and deliver the vast amount of data technology companies need to train AI systems," Fogg says. Software investments and partnerships are critical for hardware companies to create smarter AI-enabled experiences, says the IHS Markit white paper. Vendors such as Google, Apple, Sony, Microsoft and Samsung have heavily invested in the development of their own AI and voice-assistant capabilities.