Samsung Galaxy S8 may not offer its own AI assistant after all

The Samsung Galaxy S8 was supposed to have its own AI assistant similar to Apple’s Siri, Microsoft’s Cortana and Google’s own Assistant. Now a new, unconfirmed report claims that a previous patent agreement between Samsung and Google may prevent the Galaxy S8 from adding its own digital assistant.

Following Samsung’s acquisition of the AI firm Viv Labs earlier this year, the company admitted  in November that it was bringing a new AI digital assistant to the Galaxy S8 and other Samsung products. However, according to a report on Korea Business, Google is putting pressure on Samsung to kill those plans.

The dispute reportedly is based on a patent-sharing agreement that Samsung and Google signed in 2014. It is supposed to allow both companies to use each other’s patents in their devices and services for 10 years. However, that deal also has a non-compete clause that, in theory, could be used by Google as leverage to kill Samsung’s digital assistant plans for the Galaxy S8.

Of course, these kinds of patent deals could have some loopholes that might allow Samsung to add an AI assistant in the Galaxy S8. Alternatively, the two companies could also enter negotiations so that the non-compete clause would not apply.

As stated previously, this report has not been confirmed by Samsung nor Google, so be sure to take it with a grain of salt.

The most recent rumors about the Samsung Galaxy S8 claim that it will be officially revealed in April at a New York City press event.