AI on your phone: Gemini, Siri, Galaxy AI and apps, used safely

Your phone is already an AI phone

In recent years, phone makers have built AI directly into their phones. You'll find it in the voice assistant, the camera, photo editing and text writing. On top of that, you can download separate AI apps such as /en/tools/chatgpt/ or /en/tools/copilot/.

What's available depends on your phone's brand, model and age. The newest and most expensive models usually have the most features, but a lot also works on older phones through separate apps. Let's go through the most common options.

Android phones: Gemini

/en/tools/gemini/ is Google's AI assistant. On many new Android phones it has replaced the old Google Assistant. If your phone doesn't have it, you can download it from Google Play.

On most phones you can open Gemini like this:

1. Press and hold the power or side button for a moment, or
2. say "Hey Google", if you've turned on voice activation, or
3. tap the Gemini app icon on your home screen.

You can type or talk to Gemini. Gemini Live is a voice mode where you can chat naturally and even interrupt mid-answer, as you would with a person. You can also show it something through your phone's camera and ask about it.

Many Android phones also have Circle to Search. Press and hold the navigation bar or home button at the bottom of the screen, then draw a circle with your finger around anything – a jacket in a photo, say, or text in a foreign language. The phone tells you what it is or translates the text.

iPhone: Apple Intelligence and Siri

/en/tools/apple-intelligence/ is Apple's name for the iPhone's AI features. They work only on newer iPhone models and usually need to be switched on in Settings under Apple Intelligence & Siri. Features include:

• Writing Tools, which proofread, summarise and rework text in messages and email.
• Notification summaries, which condense long message threads into a short overview.
• A smarter Siri that understands everyday language better. If you like, Siri can pass harder questions on to ChatGPT – your phone always asks permission before anything is sent.
• Visual search with the camera, for recognising objects and text.

Language support is expanding gradually. Check your phone's settings to see whether Apple Intelligence works in your language; for some features you may need to set your device or Siri language to, for example, English. On an older iPhone, you can do much the same by downloading the Gemini, ChatGPT or Copilot app from the App Store.

Samsung: Galaxy AI

/en/tools/galaxy-ai/ is Samsung's collection of AI features on newer Galaxy phones. Among the most useful:

• Live call translation, which translates a phone call into another language in real time – handy when calling a hotel abroad, for example.
• Interpreter, which translates a face-to-face conversation with the screen split in two.
• Note assistance, which summarises and tidies up your notes.
• Photo editing, which lets you remove, say, a passer-by from the background.

Galaxy AI features are usually found in Settings under Galaxy AI or Advanced features. Gemini works on Samsung phones too, since they're Android phones.

Separate apps: ChatGPT, Copilot and others

You can download AI apps to any smartphone. The best known are ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot and /en/tools/claude/. All of them have a free basic version. The apps usually include:

• a text box for your questions
• a microphone button for dictating a question
• a voice mode where the AI answers out loud
• a camera button or plus sign for sending a photo.

A good way to start is to pick one app and get to know it well. More on getting started in /en/guides/get-started-with-ai/.

Camera translation and voice chat when travelling

Two features are especially popular with travellers:

• Camera translation. Open /en/tools/google-translate/ or /en/tools/google-lens/, choose the camera and point it at a menu, sign or instruction leaflet. The text changes into your language on screen. The iPhone's own Translate app and camera have a similar feature.
• Speech translation. Speak in your own language and the app says the same thing out loud in another. That way you can ask for directions or order in a restaurant.

You can also ask an AI app for help with a photo. Take a picture and type or say something like:

With allergies, never rely on a translation alone – always confirm with the staff. More travel tips in /en/guides/translation-and-travel/.

Download apps safely

App stores are full of AI apps trying to look like well-known services. Some are just expensive copies that lure you into weekly subscriptions. Here's what to do:

1. Only download from the official store: Google Play (Android) or the App Store (iPhone). Never install apps from links in messages, adverts or emails.
2. Check the developer's name. ChatGPT is published by OpenAI, Gemini by Google, Copilot by Microsoft and Claude by Anthropic. If it says something else, it isn't the original app.
3. Look at downloads and reviews. The original apps have enormous numbers of downloads and ratings.
4. Read what the subscription costs. If an app asks for payment straight away, or offers a "free trial" that turns into a paid plan, think carefully.
5. Grant only the permissions needed. Microphone and camera are usually enough, and you can allow them only while the app is in use. An AI app doesn't need your contacts or text messages.
6. Keep your phone updated. Updates fix security holes.

Privacy settings on your phone

Your phone's AI can easily see a lot: messages, photos, calendar and location. Go through the settings once:

• Check the activity history in the Gemini app and decide whether conversations are saved.
• On an iPhone, choose whether to allow the ChatGPT connection in Siri.
• In Galaxy AI, some features can be set to run only on the phone, without the cloud.
• Remove unnecessary microphone, camera and location permissions from apps.

More on settings in /en/guides/ai-privacy-and-security/. If you're helping an older relative with their phone, see also /en/guides/ai-for-seniors/.