In a significant development for the wearable technology market, Samsung recently unveiled its latest innovations, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 smartphones, alongside the new Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic smartwatches, at an event in New York City.
The introduction of these devices, particularly the Galaxy Watch 8 series, signals an intensified competition in the evolving smartwatch landscape, directly challenging Apple’s dominance with its Apple Watch Series 10. The Galaxy Watch 8 series introduces a suite of advanced health monitoring features, pushing the boundaries of what consumers can expect from their wrist-worn devices.
These new capabilities include an Antioxidant Level check, vascular monitoring during sleep, and a groundbreaking addition: the detection of ectopic heartbeats, a first for smartwatches. These health-centric features underscore a growing trend in the wearable industry to provide more comprehensive and proactive health insights to users. At the heart of the new Galaxy Watch 8’s user experience is Samsung’s One UI Watch 8 interface, which is built upon the Wear OS 6 platform.
This integration highlights a strategic focus on artificial intelligence (AI), particularly Google Gemini, across Samsung’s mobile ecosystem, mirroring the AI-centric approach seen in its latest smartphones. This emphasis on AI is poised to redefine how users interact with their smartwatches and integrate these devices into their daily lives. An early assessment of Gemini’s performance on the Galaxy Watch 8 suggests that the smartwatch form factor is uniquely suited for AI applications.
The seamless integration and intuitive user experience provided by Gemini on the watch have led many to believe that this form factor was inherently designed for AI assistants. A notable milestone in this integration is the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, which stands as the first smartwatch to come with Gemini preloaded directly out of the box.
While Google had previously launched its AI assistant for the Pixel Watch 3 earlier in the summer, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic’s out-of-the-box inclusion signifies a deeper commitment from Samsung and Google to embed AI capabilities natively into wearable devices. On the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, Gemini functions comparably to its Android phone counterpart, showcasing a remarkable optimization for the device’s 1.34-inch screen.
The inclusion of a rotating bezel further enhances usability, making it effortless to navigate through longer responses. Users can leverage Gemini for a wide array of tasks, from checking weather forecasts and time zones to controlling smart home devices and receiving navigation assistance to destinations like airports.
The feature set largely mirrors that of the Gemini app on smartphones, offering a consistent experience across devices. However, a current limitation of Gemini on the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is its reliance on a connected phone for functionality.
The potential for a standalone version of Gemini on smartwatches equipped with cellular connections remains a critical area for future development. Achieving this standalone capability is deemed essential for smartwatches to unlock their full AI potential, offering true independence from smartphones. The argument for the smartwatch form factor being ideal for AI assistants stems from the inherent accessibility and constant presence of these devices.
Unlike smartphones, which are not always readily available, a smartwatch is typically worn throughout the day, making AI assistance continually accessible. This constant availability addresses a common challenge with many AI assistants: their sporadic responsiveness. On a smartwatch, Gemini is perpetually listening, and this continuous operation has shown no noticeable impact on the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic’s battery life.
While it may not always respond, especially when other Android phones are nearby, its efficiency and utility as an AI interface on the wrist are surprisingly high. The battery life of the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic further supports its suitability for AI integration, offering two days of operation on a single charge.
Recharging the device to full capacity takes approximately an hour and a half. Disabling notifications sent to the watch can extend its battery life even further, enhancing its practicality for sustained AI use. The premise that “Smartwatches need AI, and AI needs the smartwatch” underpins the strategic importance of this integration.
Smartwatches are almost universally worn, providing an unparalleled level of accessibility that smartphones cannot always match, especially for users who manage multiple devices. While health and fitness tracking remain the most popular use cases for smartwatches, and a subset of users rely on them for notification triage, the average user primarily engages with core features.
This development comes at a time when the smart home industry has experienced a period of stagnation, despite ambitious promises from tech giants like Samsung, Amazon, Google, and Apple regarding a voice-controlled future. The optimization of Gemini for smartwatch use, potentially incorporating engaging features like the “Spin The Bottle glyph” seen on the Nothing Phone 3, could ignite a broader network effect for Google’s smart home ecosystem.
Similar opportunities could arise if Amazon were to partner with Android phone manufacturers to preload Alexa alongside Gemini, though this scenario presents greater logistical challenges. Crucially, the Gemini experience on the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic has clarified that smartwatches do not require cameras to enable advanced AI features like Gemini Live.
While earlier smartwatches like the Samsung Galaxy Gear decades ago incorporated cameras, the current iteration of AI on wearables does not necessitate this hardware. Gemini Live, a key feature on Android, allows users to share their camera or screen with Google, enabling interactive questions and real-world interactions.
This functionality, however, primarily leverages the phone’s camera. The impending launch of Google’s Project Astra-powered glasses, which will bring Gemini Live to a wearable glasses form factor, further reinforces the idea that cameras on smartwatches are largely redundant for these AI capabilities.
The combination of glasses and smartphones provides ample avenues for Gemini Live, negating the need for a camera on the wrist. The success of Gemini on the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic also offers a compelling contrast to previous attempts by companies like Humane and Rabbit to introduce wearable AI devices.
Humane’s AI Pin, priced at $699 with an additional $24 monthly subscription, ultimately failed to deliver on its promises, leading to its acquisition by HP for less than half the venture capital raised. Similarly, Rabbit’s more affordable wearable AI pin, at $199 without a subscription, also faltered, largely due to its nature as another standalone gadget that failed to integrate seamlessly into users’ daily lives.
Gemini on Wear OS addresses the fundamental challenges that have plagued previous AI-focused wearable devices. Smartwatches are already an integral part of many users’ routines, eliminating the need to carry an additional device.
The display size is sufficient for reviewing Gemini responses without compromising the device’s form factor or user experience. Moreover, the minimal impact on battery life ensures that most smartwatches can maintain multi-day usability, a critical factor for widespread adoption.
While this AI-enhanced smartwatch experience may not appeal to all users, the integration of Gemini on the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic significantly enhances the utility of the smartwatch form factor as an AI device. Compared to other existing AI hardware, such as smartphones, smart displays, or headphones, the smartwatch emerges as a uniquely convenient and effective platform for AI interaction, solidifying its position as a more indispensable tool in the evolving landscape of personal technology.
