Samsung’s Vision AI, unveiled at CES 2025, promises to revolutionize how we interact with our TVs. But while the buzz around Vision AI is undeniable, I’m not convinced it’s time for an upgrade just yet.
5
AI Picture Enhancements Aren’t Really Groundbreaking
Samsung is touting its AI Auto HDR remastering, AI Color Boosting Pro, and AI upscaling as game-changers for picture quality. And sure, these features sound impressive on paper. But how much better can a TV picture actually get?
Modern TVs already deliver stunning visuals, with 4K and 8K resolutions offering razor-sharp clarity. While AI enhancements might tweak colors or improve contrast, the difference will likely be marginal for the average viewer. Unless you’re a professional videographer or a hardcore cinephile, these upgrades might not even be noticeable.
Moreover, AI-driven picture enhancements aren’t new. Competitors like LG and Sony have been refining their own AI upscaling and color-boosting technologies for years. Samsung’s advancements feel more like incremental updates than revolutionary leaps. For most consumers, the current generation of TVs already offers more than enough visual fidelity.
4
The Remote’s AI Search Button Solves a Problem I Don’t Have
One of the flashier features of Samsung’s Vision AI is the new AI search button on the remote. With a single click, you can pull up information about actors, locations, or even recipes for food shown on screen. While I find the feature undeniably futuristic, I’m uncertain about its practicality.
Here’s the thing: I already have a device that does all of this, and it’s called a smartphone. Most of us are already accustomed to using our phones to look up trivia, recipes, or actor bios while watching TV. Adding this functionality to the remote feels redundant, especially when it requires yet another button cluttering an already crowded remote control.
Worse, this feature assumes that viewers are constantly curious about every detail on screen. In reality, most of us just want to sit back and enjoy the show without interruptions. The AI search button might appeal to a niche audience, but for the average viewer, it’s solving a problem that doesn’t really exist.
3
Turning My TV Into a Security System Feels Invasive
Samsung’s Vision AI takes a bold step by integrating home security features into its TVs. Using built-in cameras and microphones, the system can detect unusual noises or movements and alert you via your phone or TV. While this might sound convenient, it raises some serious privacy concerns.
First, the idea of my TV watching and listening to me feels uncomfortably invasive. Even if Samsung promises robust security measures, the potential for misuse or hacking is hard to ignore. We’ve seen enough data breaches and privacy scandals to know that no system is foolproof. Do I really want to risk my home’s security—and my privacy—on a feature secondary to the TV’s main purpose?
Second, this feature feels like a solution in search of a problem. Most security-conscious people already have dedicated smart home security systems, from smart doorbells to standalone cameras. Adding a security feature to a TV feels unnecessary and, frankly, a bit gimmicky. If I’m serious about home security, I’d rather invest in a system designed specifically for that purpose.
2
Live Translations Are Cool—But Niche and Unpolished
Another intriguing feature of Vision AI is its live translation capability, which instantly translates closed captions on live broadcasts into seven different languages. On the surface, this sounds like a nifty feature for multilingual households or international viewers. But dig a little deeper, and the limitations become apparent.
For starters, live translation technology is still far from perfect. Even the most advanced AI translation tools, like Google Translate, struggle with nuances like idioms, cultural references, and context. While Samsung’s system might handle straightforward dialogue reasonably well, it’s likely to stumble on more complex content, leading to awkward or inaccurate translations.
Additionally, this feature caters to a relatively small audience. For most viewers, standard subtitles in their native language are more than sufficient. Unless you frequently watch content in languages you don’t understand, this feature is likely to go unused. It’s a neat trick but not a compelling reason to upgrade.
1
Samsung’s Vision AI Feels Like a Work in Progress
Samsung’s Vision AI is ambitious, but it’s not quite the finished product it’s being marketed as. Many of its features, from the AI search button to live translations, are impressive in theory but lack the refinement needed to make them truly practical.
Additionally, the integration of these features feels disjointed. Instead of creating a seamless user experience, Vision AI comes across as a collection of loosely connected ideas. The AI search button, live translations, and security features don’t necessarily complement each other—they just exist, competing for attention and resources.
While Samsung is clearly pushing the boundaries of what a TV can do, it’s hard to shake the feeling that the current version of Vision AI is more of a proof of concept than a polished product. An upgrade would only be worth it (in my opinion) when these features have been refined and demonstrated their real-world value.
