I made fun of these Android features two years ago; now I use them every day
Android Police 2026-07-28 12:00:16
Context: Ben Khalesi, an Android journalist, initially mocked certain AI features introduced by Samsung and Google in early 2024, such as Circle to Search, Bixby Text Call, and live translation, but ended up using them daily two years later. These features, which were initially met with skepticism, have become integral to his daily routine, providing convenience and efficiency. The transformation in his perspective highlights the evolution and improvement of AI technology in smartphones.
Key Facts
- Ben Khalesi, who joined Android Police in 2023 and has a background in IT with a major in AI, initially criticized features like Circle to Search, launched on Samsung Galaxy S24 and Google Pixel 8 in January 2024, calling it "Google Lens with better marketing."
- The September 2024 feature drop added song identification to Circle to Search, which significantly improved its functionality, allowing Ben to effortlessly look up information by circling it on the screen, a feature he now uses reflexively.
- Samsung's Bixby Text Call, initially criticized for its awkward synthetic voice and cumbersome process, was later improved with the introduction of Auto screen calls in One UI 8.5, enabling the phone to handle calls like a receptionist, taking messages from unknown numbers.
- The Interpreter app on foldable phones, such as those in Flex Mode, and Pixel Buds Pro 2, have made live translation practical and efficient, eliminating the need for cumbersome interactions during conversations.
- AI photo editing features, including Magic Eraser, conversational editing on Pixel 10 in August 2025, and Nano Banana in Google Photos in November, have significantly improved, to the point where Ben can no longer easily identify AI-edited images.