Samsung’s 2025 TVs get all the AI ​​Extras no one asked for

Artificial intelligence can do amazing things these days. You can create video from a sentencewrite to cover letter or a thank you note as well helps train driverless cars. But “amazing” isn’t quite the word I’d use to describe the AI ​​features on Samsung’s 2025 TV lineup, which are on display at CES 2025.

In previous years Samsung has used “AI” to describe its image quality processing features, designed to improve color, detail upscaling and HDR performance, and continues to do so this year. What is new for 2025 are the AI ​​functions in convenience, similar to what is already offered in phones. I haven’t tried it yet, but from what I’ve seen, I expect the phone-based versions to be more useful.

AI to increase your TV viewing (and food ordering)

Something called “Click to Search” can recognize what is playing on the screen and provide information in real time, including being able to identify people, places or products. In an example Samsung showed, the function “identified” where the scene took place, who were the actors, the clothes they wore and what other TV shows and movies in which they starred.

At first blush it looks similar to the Circle to search feature on phones, which CNET reviewers generally like, but much less useful because it’s limited to what’s on TV. I have the same thought about the company’s new AI meal planner. Called “Samsung Food,” it can replicate recipes from TV shows and let you buy ingredients or order delivery from the TV screen — two things a phone can do better than a TV.

Samsung’s TV remote, which I also really like for its simplicity and design, will have a dedicated AI button that will lead to shopping, content and discovery recommendations. I’m guessing it will also invoke other AI features down the road, but Samsung hasn’t confirmed.

Do you remember Bixby? Samsung’s voice assistant and answer to Amazon Alexa and Apple’s Siri is getting an AI boost in 2025 on TVs with the help of a LLM. The benefit, according to Samsung, is that the assistant can better understand chained commands, such as changing the channel and raising the volume at the same time.

Another catch-up feature that’s “new” for 2025: gesture control. Unlike the function miserably failed the company launched 13 years agowhich relied on a camera and hand movements, the 2025 version requires you to wear a Galaxy Watch while managing the TV. Use a middle finger, I won’t judge.

Karaoke AI and live translation of subtitles

Two of Samsung’s new TV features look much cooler to me. Because I love a good song, I’m interested in trying the new AI Karaoke feature on their TVs. Use your phone as a mic and automatically remove vocals from existing songs, leaving your voice and music.

And potentially useful to people who read different languages, the company offers an AI Live Translate service on its TVs (as it already does with phones). The TV can instantly translate subtitles on live broadcasts in up to seven languages.

My take? None of these new AI features seem worth buying a Samsung over another TV, with the possible exception of subtitle translations (or Karaoke, if you like Karaoke). Of course, I’ll reserve final judgment on these smart TV features, as well as the new picture quality improvements, for when we can get these new Samsung TVs to test later this year.