The obvious reason why I'm not sold on smartphone AI features yet (and I'm not alone)

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

I've had my Pixel 9 Pro for a while now, and I firmly stand by my opinion that it's the best phone Google has released to date. The phone is elegantly designed and powerful, has a great camera, and Android 15 runs smoother than any previous version.

Also: What is Gemini? Everything you should know about Google's new AI model

If you pay attention to Google's marketing for the Pixel 9 phones and Android 15, however, you'd think AI was not only the heart and soul of the new device, but is practically required to get the most out of the phone.

That is so not the case.

Since I received my Pixel 9 Pro, I've directly interacted with AI maybe a handful of times. I have Gemini Live installed and haven't used it beyond a test conversation. The camera app includes all sorts of tools to help me take better photos (or improve the photos I've taken), but I'd rather know what I'm doing, so I can take quality photos without the help of the AI shortcut. The most I've done with AI on my Pixel 9 Pro is set alarms and add appointments to calendars.

Instead, I've used my phone as a phone, a means to listen to music while on the go, a way to connect with the people in my circles, and to help keep my life organized. You know… the things most people do with their phones.

Also: I bought the Google Pixel 9 Pro, and its most impressive feature was not the software

If Google and Apple had their way, we'd all be using AI for everything. Things like:

I need to send a message to my wife -- let AI do it.I need to take a photo -- AI is at the ready.I need to write an important email to a client -- AI, do your job.I need to write an article about… whoa, Nelly. Let's not even go there.

I've had several conversations with people I consider phone "power users," and not one of them mentioned AI as a necessary feature. There are, however, upgrades to phones that are far more important. 

Here's my list:

Better app sandboxingHigher quality audioBetter performance on low-end and mid-range devicesBetter camera stabilizationBetter desktop integration across platformsImproved memory managementMore consistent support across manufacturersAn app drawer for iPhonesFaceTime support for AndroidBetter SMS integration between Android and iOSAbility to dock a phone and use it as a desktop computer (this has been done… just not well)

I also asked a handful of non-power users, and their answer (across the board) was... I just want my phone to work.

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

Yes, this is highly unscientific data, and it does not represent the whole phone-using community, but I do think it's a fairly safe bet to say that most people would rather have affordable phones that work as expected, are secure, and have user-friendly UIs more than they'd like AI integration.

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The thing is, we don't need AI integrated into our devices. What we do need are phones that reliably place calls, help us communicate with others, organize our lives, and entertain us.

The cost of adding AI

According to Digital Trends, the secret cost of adding AI to a smartphone is that someone is or will eventually be collecting a fee for using AI. At the moment, it's all so new to the world of smartphones that everything is free. You can use Gemini Advanced at no cost on a new Pixel phone for a year. After that year is up, you'll have to pay for the service. If, after that year is up, you don't remember to unsubscribe, you'll be charged.

That's not all.

AI requires power… a lot of it. Most AI queries are offloaded to massive data centers that consume exorbitant amounts of energy. Microsoft is working with the once-decommissioned Three Mile Island nuclear reactor to power its AI efforts.

What's the cost of that, and who eventually eats it?

Also: Everything to know about Apple's AI features coming to iPhones, Macs, and iPads

As for Google, with the release of the Pixel 9 phones and Android 15, the company has decided to tackle some smaller AI bits locally. What does that mean? If the trend continues, phones will need exponentially more powerful chips to function because, as I said, AI needs power.

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

Imagine if, all of a sudden, your device has even more integrated AI features that consume your CPU resources such that there's little left for apps. That means phone manufacturers will have to use even more powerful chips, more RAM, and have better heat dissipation.

It's all so intertwined and complex, especially since most people just want their phones to work.

Also: A smartphone without apps? This AI assistant aims to replace them all

I get it. Phone manufacturers felt the need to hop onto the AI train because (right now) AI is sexy, and it sells. Carl Pei (of Nothing) posted a video on X stating that the Nothing Phone 3 will be all in with AI. I was quite disappointed in this because I was planning on finally making the jump from the Pixel phone to a Nothing phone, but that stopped me cold.

I don't see AI as the salvation of the phone industry some think it to be. The phone industry doesn't need salvation because, according to Market Data Forecast, the global phone market is expected to reach $493.08 billion by the end of 2024. AI had nothing to do with that enormous market share, as phones sell themselves.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against AI. I believe AI has its place in certain fields, but as a selling point for phones, I believe manufacturers are misguided. We don't need AI in our phones; we need phones that work reliably and securely without having to mortgage our houses to purchase them.