Exploring AI in Smart Phones: Benefits and Security Implications

 

AI Advancement in Smart Phones

Think back to a time that you and a friend were talking about some new product that you were interested in. Did you notice that the next time you were scrolling social media, you saw advertisements for either that product, or something similar? Kind of creepy right? It's almost as if your phone was listening to you.

Don't worry, it wasn't...sort of! The reality is that targeted marketing, a highly sophisticated form of marketing, uses machine learning algorithms that study your online behavior. These algorithms also analyze your friends online behavior and then discern certain products that may be interesting to both of you. This will often happen regardless of whether you're actively using the social media app or not. It's important to understand that many large companies that are known for selling a particular good or service, are also selling data, often times earning more on that then the actual products that they are known for. Companies have become so good at this kind of marketing, that it creates the illusion that your phone was listening to you. 

AI has been used for some time in smartphones, especially with picture enhancement tools. But Samsung and Apple have now developed full-blown generational AI models in their Galaxy AI and Apple Intelligence respectively. For the first time ever, AI will be baked into the operating systems of your future phones.

This article is going to highlight some of features and business applications of these new AI systems. From there, the article will address some privacy and security concerns that are important to be aware of. 

Thanks for reading! 

AI Integration in Smart Phone Operating Systems

Apple and Samsung are both integrating artificial intelligence into new smart phone models. Samsung has already integrated their Samsung Galaxy AI and Apple is set to release Apple Intelligence later this year. 

Samsung's Galaxy AI is currently available in the following models:

• S23
• S23+
• S23 Ultra
• S23 FE
• S24
• 24+
• 24 Ultra
• Galaxy Z Flip5 and Z Fold5

While impressive, the highlights of of Samsung's integration include language translation, picture enhancement technology, and Google's Circle to Search. The latter is pretty neat as it allows the user to circle something within an image, then initiate a google search based on what was encircled. 

Over at Apple, the news coming out of the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) was pretty impressive. Not only will they be partnering with ChatGPT, Apple Intelligence offers some powerful tools, including:

• Writing tools that help the user change tone and proofread emails.
• Enhanced emojis and emoji generation.
• Image Playground which is an AI image generation tool.
• Image Wand which helps the user polish sketches and turn them into high quality pictures.
• Upgrades to Siri
• Improved natural language understanding
• Short-term memory so the user can ask follow-up questions about something
• Personal context which enables Siri to understand things about your life and provide answers, such as when your Mom's flight will be landing.
• Users can now type to Siri, not just talk to Siri.
• Priority Notifications
• Memory Movie which will allow users to create short films based on pictures that are saved on their phone.
  
  
  

The Double-Edged Sword of Convenience

Every time you unlock your phone with a fingerprint, use facial recognition, or dictate a text message, you're leveraging sophisticated AI systems designed to make your life easier. Yet, this convenience can come at a cost. Biometric data, for example, is highly sensitive. Unlike passwords, you can't change your fingerprint or face if this data gets compromised. Therefore, the storage and protection of such information are critical concerns.

Location Tracking: Always On

Another significant issue is location tracking. Most smartphones come with built-in GPS systems that are incredibly accurate. Apps and services that you use daily often request access to your location data. While this can be useful for navigating to that new restaurant you've been wanting to try, it also means that your movements are constantly being tracked and recorded. For instance, think about how Google Maps knows your daily commute, knows where "home" is, or how social media apps tag your location. As mentioned, companies can use this data to build detailed profiles of your habits and preferences, raising questions about how this information is being used and who has access to it.

Data Breaches and Hacks

The potential for data breaches is another serious concern. Smartphones store an increasing amount of personal information, from photos and contacts to banking details and health records. A single breach can expose vast amounts of sensitive data, leading to identity theft, financial loss, and other severe consequences. Every year, multiple tens of millions of records are stolen from smart phones alone. Apple has explicitly addressed privacy and security concerns with their latest Apple Intelligence and smart phone release. Despite their efforts, however, no phone is completely immune to hacking, especially when you factor in social engineering based attacks.

App Permissions and Data Sharing

It's also important to consider app permissions and data-sharing practices. Many apps request access to more information than they actually need to function. For example, a simple flashlight app might ask for access to your camera, microphone, and location. Granting these permissions can lead to unauthorized data collection and sharing with third parties, often without your explicit knowledge or consent. Reviewing app permissions regularly and being selective about which apps you install can help mitigate this risk.

Protecting Yourself: Best Practices

So, what can you do to protect your privacy and security in this new world of AI integrated smart phones? Here are a few tips:

• Regularly update your phone's operating system.
• Manufacturers frequently release updates that address security vulnerabilities.
• Use strong, unique passwords for different accounts and consider a reputable password manager.
• Be mindful of app permissions.
• Only grant necessary permissions and regularly review which apps have access to your data.
• Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible to add an extra layer of security.
• Consider using privacy-focused apps and services that prioritize user data protection.

Be mindful of the fact that these suggestions are not exhaustive, nor will they guarantee your security. The goal of security is not to lean to heavily on one solution, but rather create layers of defense (a.k.a. defense in depth). So that if one security solution is failing, you have added security through other solutions.

Conclusion

Artificial Intelligence has already been common place in smart phones, but now, it will be embedded within your phones hardware at the operating system level. There are a lot of really positive applications that AI will help to facilitate. It can help us to organize ourselves in our personal life. It can help us draft that perfect email to a potential employer. With anything, however, there are a lot of privacy and security concerns that we need to be aware of. If, at the end of the day you despise the fact that your phone is tracking your behaviors, including your location, you can always buy a "dumb" phone. It's true, they really do still exist. The choice is yours!

How I used AI in this Article

• Admittedly, I ran into a writer's block with this article, especially after getting distracted with some life stuff. So, I used GPT 4o to help me write the second half of the article. I didn't take the output and etch it in stone. Rather, I leaned on GPT 4o to provide some guidance and amended certain things along the way.

About the Author

Dan Doerr has dedicated his life to defense and security. He was introduced, first hand, to national defense and security while serving in the U.S. Army. Since then, he has achieved his Master's Degree from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, focusing his research on International Security. Dan holds his CompTIA Security+ Certification and is an active volunteer for the Denver Chapter of the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA). He loves technology and when he isn't diving head first into the tech world, he likes to do the opposite by getting out into nature.  

Sources

1. Apple. "Apple Intelligence". Apple. Accessed 19 June, 2024. https://developer.apple.com/apple-intelligence/.

2. Samsung. "Welcome to Galaxy AI". Samsung. Accessed 19 June, 2024. https://www.samsung.com/us/galaxy-ai/.