Chinese technology company Honor is gearing up to launch its latest smartphone, the Magic 7, which promises to bring a host of innovative artificial intelligence (AI) features to its users. In a recent demonstration unveiled on Tuesday, the company showcased the capabilities of its AI assistant, Yoyo, highlighting how it can streamline everyday tasks like ordering a cup of coffee tailored to personal preferences.
The demonstration video exhibited a scenario where a user, feeling a bit sluggish, instructs the Yoyo assistant to order a beverage. The AI smoothly interacts with LuckIn Coffee's app—a major Chinese coffee chain comparable to Starbucks—selecting a Raw Milk Latte and automatically arranging for takeout. Interestingly, certain drink preferences, such as the absence of sugar and opting for an iced version, were already chosen, suggestive of the AI assistant's ability to learn and anticipate the user’s habitual orders over time. This learning component is designed to personalise the experience further, with the Magic 7 adapting to choices like preferring coconut milk over dairy.
This push towards integrating generative AI into smartphones aligns with a broader trend witnessed across the industry. Major players like Google, Samsung, and Apple have increasingly emphasised AI features in recent product offerings, aiming to entice consumers in a growingly competitive market. While direct causation between AI integration and phone sales remains unclear, the smartphone market has experienced a notable uptick. According to Canalys, a market research firm, global smartphone shipments soared by 12% in the second quarter of this year, amounting to 288 million units, with Samsung and Apple leading the charge.
Beyond its coffee-ordering prowess, the Yoyo AI assistant is poised to offer other time-saving functionalities on the Magic 7. A second demo showcased the assistant’s ability to manage unwanted subscriptions with ease. Upon a user’s request, the assistant quickly identifies apps with activated auto-renewal subscriptions and offers to cancel them, thereby taking full control of the device's subscription management.
Honor also outlined additional potential capabilities for the Yoyo assistant, such as assisting with booking air travel, managing notifications, and scheduling calendar events. These features will be part of the upcoming MagicOS 9.0 operating system, anticipated to release by the end of the month. The Magic 7 will be powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, promising improved performance and efficiency.
Honor’s strategic vision positions the Magic 7’s AI functionalities as more action-oriented compared to its competitors. This aligns with Motorola’s recent conceptual announcement which outlined plans to transform their smartphones into comprehensive personal assistants able to perform tasks like coffee ordering via simple voice commands.
In the lead up to the Magic 7, Honor's past efforts in AI technology, such as the introduction of an eye-tracking feature in the Magic 6 series, suggest a continuous trajectory towards innovating user interaction with their devices. The Magic 6 Pro had its global debut at the Mobile World Congress earlier this year, and there is an expectation for the Magic 7 to receive a similar international launch, though specifics have yet to be confirmed.
Source: Noah Wire Services