Samsung 2025 TVs get all the AI ​​goodies no one asked for

Artificial intelligence can do some amazing things these days. It can create videos from phrasewrite a cover letter or a thank you note and even help train driverless cars. But “amazing” isn’t quite the word I’d use to describe the AI ​​features on Samsung’s 2025 line of TVs on display CES 2025.

In previous years, Samsung used “AI” to describe its picture quality processing features designed to improve color, increase detail and HDR performance and continues to do so this year. New for 2025 are convenience-related AI features similar to what it already offers in phones. I haven’t tested them yet, but from what I’ve seen, I expect the phone-based versions to be more useful.

AI to increase TV viewing (and food ordering)

Something called Click to Search can recognize what’s playing on the screen and provide real-time information, including being able to identify people, places or products. In one example shown by Samsung, the feature “identified” where the scene took place, who the actors were, the outfits they wore and what other TV shows and movies they were in.

At first blush it looks similar to Search circle a feature on phones that CNET reviewers generally liked, but much less useful because it’s limited to what’s on TV. I feel the same way about the company’s new AI meal planner. Called ‘Samsung Food’, it can play recipes from TV shows and let you buy ingredients or order delivery from the TV screen – two things a phone can do better than a TV.

Samsung’s TV remote, which I also really like for its simplicity and design, will have a dedicated AI button that will lead to recommendations for shopping, content and discovery. I’m guessing it will invoke other AI features along the way, but Samsung hasn’t confirmed that.

Remember Bixby? Samsung’s voice assistant and answer to Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri will get an AI boost in 2025. on TVs using LLM. The benefit, according to Samsung, is that the assistant can better understand chain commands, such as changing the channel and increasing the volume at the same time.

Another returning feature that’s “new” for 2025: gesture control. Unlike the company’s miserably failed function started 13 years agowhich relied on a camera and hand movements, the 2025 version. requires you to wear the Galaxy Watch while gesturing to the TV. Use middle finger, I won’t judge.

AI Karaoke and live subtitle translation

Two of Samsung’s new TV features seem much cooler to me. As I love a good sing along, I am interested in trying out the new AI Karaoke feature on its TVs. It uses your phone as a microphone and automatically removes vocals from existing songs, leaving your voice and the music.

And potentially useful for people who read different languages, the company offers an AI Live Translate service on its TVs (like already does with phones). The TV can instantly translate closed captions of live broadcasts into up to seven languages.

My opinion? None of these new AI features seem worth buying a Samsung over another TV, with the possible exception of subtitle translations (or karaoke, if you’re into karaoke). Of course, I’ll reserve final judgment on these smart TV features, as well as the new picture quality improvements, for when we can get these new Samsung TVs out for testing later this year.