Samsung mobile AI privacy prioritizes user control, on-device intelligence, and secure cloud processing, ensuring data remains private and protected.
In this exclusive interview, we explore Samsung’s mobile AI innovations, focusing on user privacy, on-device intelligence, and giving individuals meaningful control over their data, with insights from Ryan Mule.
We’re in an AI arms race, and every new feature seems to require access to personal data. When it comes to mobile AI, Why should we trust Samsung?
At Samsung, our philosophy rests on two core principles of transparency and user control. We believe the individual, not the company should determine how their data is handled.
This is why we developed our Hybrid AI architecture. Everyday features such as real-time Live Translate during calls, operate entirely on-device. Your conversation never leaves the phone. For more demanding capabilities, such as Generative Edit in photos, we utilize secure cloud resources for the necessary computational power.
Our key differentiator is choice. In the “Advanced Intelligence” settings, users can enable “Process data only on device.” When activated, this setting prevents any AI-related data from being sent to the cloud. Features that can run locally continue to function seamlessly and those requiring cloud resources are simply disabled. Ultimately, your data is your decision.
That’s a strong commitment. How does it work in practice, and what safeguards apply when data must be sent to the cloud?
When cloud processing is required and permitted, data is processed transiently and per our explicit policy, is neither retained long-term nor used to train AI models.
Samsung’s security extends far beyond software. The entire Galaxy AI experience is protected by Samsung Knox[1], our defense-grade security platform. At its core is the Knox Vault a physically isolated secure processor that functions like a tamper-resistant vault within the device. It isolates sensitive credentials (PINs, passwords, biometrics, and encryption keys) from the main processor and memory, ensuring they remain protected even if the device is compromised.
Additionally, features such as Auto Blocker prevent unauthorized app installations and block malicious commands over USB, further safeguarding the device before AI features are ever engaged.
To play devil’s advocate: if I disable all cloud processing, am I left with a significantly less capable AI? What are the real trade-offs?
It’s not a question of less capable versus more capable,”but rather of speed and privacy versus maximum generative power.
On-device AI delivers instantaneous responses with absolute privacy—ideal for real-time translation, note summarization, or circle-to-search functionality.
The trade-off is that today’s most advanced generative models—those capable of creating entirely new images, rewriting long-form content, or synthesizing real-time web knowledge—are simply too large and resource-intensive to run locally on current mobile hardware. By offering explicit control, we let you decide, moment by moment, whether maximum privacy or maximum performance is the priority.
Your competitors often say, “Trust our system.” You’re saying, “Here are the controls—decide for yourself.” Why is user control the superior long-term strategy?
Because trust cannot be declared; it must be earned through consistent, verifiable actions.
We are asking people to integrate AI into the most intimate aspects of their lives—their conversations, health data, finances, and memories. A closed, “trust us” model is unsustainable in the long run. Genuine, lasting loyalty is built by empowering users with clear information and meaningful controls over their own privacy.
At Samsung, we are not only developing powerful AI—we are building a transparent, user-centric ecosystem that people can trust for years to come.
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