Samsung Elevates India Hub to Lead Global Voice AI

Samsung’s India hub takes the lead on Galaxy AI

Samsung is reorienting its long-standing Bengaluru-based R&D facility, the Samsung R&D Institute India in Bengaluru (SRI-B), to steer the next generation of voice-first AI across Samsung’s ecosystem. The move highlights a broader strategic shift in which India becomes not just a south Asian outsourcing hub but a central node in a global AI architecture. Engineers at SRI-B are now positioned at the forefront of designing on-device voice interfaces and AI-enabled features that blend into Galaxy smartphones and beyond. The goal is to create a more natural user experience that leans on voice interactions as a primary mode of engagement.

From delivery center to AI powerhouse

What was once seen as a regional delivery hub has evolved into a critical AI powerhouse for Samsung. The Bengaluru team has contributed to core innovations like on-device AI, voice intelligence, and real-time language translation during calls. These capabilities underpin the Galaxy AI platform, which accompanied the S24 launch and includes features such as intelligent text suggestions and natural, two-way voice interactions. In practice, that means your phone could soon understand and respond with less friction, even in noisy environments, thanks to Voice Focus and other improvements.

• On-device emphasis: Keeping AI processing local for speed and privacy.
• Language innovation: Localized models that handle multilingual use cases in India.
• Real-time translation: Seamless cross-language conversations on calls.

India as a testing ground for global features

A defining theme of Samsung’s strategy is localization—tuning AI to the specifics of the Indian market while letting those learnings inform global products. The SRI-B team led the development of the Hindi language model for Galaxy AI, a complex endeavor that required accounting for more than 20 regional dialects, tonal variations, and the frequent mixing of English words into Hindi conversations. Building such models demanded cycles of training with translated and transliterated data to accommodate Hindi’s phonetic quirks.

The impact isn’t limited to language. Features like Voice Focus, which reduces background noise during calls, have often found their way into broader releases, demonstrating how India-first innovations can ripple outward. Samsung has noted that AI usage in India is higher than the global average, reinforcing the strategic value of investing in local talent and multilingual capabilities. The company also indicated plans to deepen investments in Bengaluru and Noida to push forward new AI features across Indian languages.

A broader AI-for-all vision

Samsung’s AI strategy is centered on a vision the company calls “AI for All.” It extends beyond phones to a broad ecosystem of connected devices, from Bespoke AI appliances to TVs, all powered by SmartThings. On-device capabilities—such as multi-command understanding and context-aware responses—are designed to deliver faster, more secure experiences while preserving user privacy. The aim is to create an integrated experience where voice becomes a natural, everyday interface rather than a gimmick.

• Bespoke AI appliances: Upgraded Bixby with improved multi-sentence comprehension and contextual awareness.
• SmartThings ecosystem: A platform for cross-device AI coordination.
• AI copilots: On-device AI-driven productivity tools for laptops and PCs.

The Bengaluru hub’s work feeds into a broader push toward AI-powered devices, including the development of AI copilots that can operate on-device to boost productivity and security. Samsung has emphasized that the company intends to strike a balance between on-device AI for privacy and cloud-based AI for capabilities that require more compute, building a hybrid approach that can scale across a network of more than 500 million connected devices.

What’s next for Samsung’s voice-driven era?

With conversations turning increasingly voice-first, Samsung is exploring ways to expand beyond smartphones, including potential satellite communications support to ensure connectivity in tougher environments or remote locations. The company continues to upgrade its voice intelligence on Bixby to compete with Amazon’s Alexa, Google’s Assistant, and Apple’s Siri. The core bet is simple: if the user can talk to their device in a natural, conversational way, the device becomes more valuable and easier to use—especially when AI features run directly on the device rather than in the cloud.

The Bengaluru center isn’t just supporting current flagship devices; it’s also a long-term investment in AI that aims to future-proof hardware and software against rapid changes in the AI landscape. By leaning on India’s deep pool of tech talent and a dynamic domestic market, Samsung hopes the country will not only supply breakthroughs but also help shape a software-first approach to hardware design.

Conclusion: An India-led path to an AI-dominated future

The shift to position India as a global voice AI hub reflects a broader trend in which AI capabilities—especially those tied to language, voice, and on-device processing—are becoming strategic differentiators. Samsung’s emphasis on local languages and on-device intelligence suggests a future where voice-driven interactions are a core facet of the user experience across devices, not a feature tucked away behind screens. If the India-led initiative succeeds, it could redefine Samsung’s leadership in an increasingly AI-centric tech era, with Bengaluru serving as the nerve center for a global push toward more natural, intelligent, and personalized consumer experiences.

Sources

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