Samsung faces user backlash over Galaxy AI in heated Reddit AMA as fans call features a 'burden'

Samsung addresses the 'burden' of AI, and why it won't make small phones anymore

The company also highlighted the Galaxy S26 Ultra's Privacy Display and confirmed that large screens remain the priority due to consumer demand. Samsung introduced Galaxy AI with the Galaxy S24 series, and every new Galaxy S release since then has introduced new features. These newer features have been slowly trickling down to older flagships, but everyone still seems to be struggling with their utility. Samsung recently held an Ask Me Anything (AMA) on Reddit, and the answers give us a glimpse of Samsung's vision for Galaxy AI's future, as well as more of the company's thoughts on its recent flagships.

Samsung grilled by fans over Galaxy AI in spiky Reddit AMA

In a wide-ranging Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) post, Samsung has addressed concerns over Galaxy AI, which has been a headline feature on its phones since the introduction of the Galaxy S24 series. Both the questions and the responses give us an interesting look at how people relate to Galaxy AI, and how Samsung still has work to do convincing people it adds value to its phones. AI skeptics The questions have been put to Annika Bizon, Samsung UK and Ireland's VP of Product and Marketing for Mobile Experience, and Redditors have not given her an easy time. "I'm using the Galaxy S26 Ultra and I can't find the niche in which AI is anything but a burden," writes one Samsung phone owner, and another says: "How are you supporting customers that don't want AI on their devices?" Another questions how Galaxy AI uses data shared to Galaxy AI. One person asks how Galaxy AI actually helps them day-to-day, and another still writes, "From conversations I have, many people are extremely wary of AI. Would Samsung ever be interested in servicing this market?" The tone of the questions will likely not please Samsung, as most center around Galaxy AI not being a desirable feature, one that they don't really understand, or struggle to find any value in. Samsung responds To Samsung's credit, it answers these questions in the AMA. Responding to the person wary of AI, Bizon writes: We really believe the moment AI will truly succeed is when it becomes so functional that it becomes invisible. We like to think it will be like the electricity that powers your home, something you depend on without even thinking about it. You just expect it, and it will be genuinely useful to everything you do in your life. It should feel effortless but, most importantly, in your control. It's a measured and interesting reply, and this trend continues when Bizon answers the question, or rather statement, that someone finds AI a burden on the S26 Ultra: My advice for people who are struggling to navigate new ways of being more productive with AI is to start with one feature and let it do something for you. Once AI earns your trust in one area, you start noticing where else it might actually help you rather than where it's just there. Your phone should work for you, not the other way around. The features mentioned most are the new Now Nudge, which prompts certain tasks, actions, reminders and apps based on what's happening on screen, along with Note Assist, which records, formats, and summarizes meetings. Security reassurance Concerns over Galaxy AI's use of data are addressed by reiterating Samsung's standard, and comprehensive suite of Knox security features, with the promise that cloud-based AI data is processed to deliver an answer and then deleted. What about someone who doesn't want AI on their Samsung phone? Bizon explains: You can go into Galaxy AI settings, and choose which AI features you want on and off. [It's] completely customizable and personal to your preferences. We believe in giving people genuine choice over how they use their technology. If you want a Samsung device without AI features running, that's a completely valid way to use it and we support that. The phone will work brilliantly either way. This isn't quite the same as a Galaxy phone without AI at all, something which may become a reality in the future, but a reasonable option for anyone who wants to minimize AI on their phones at the moment. S Pen, innovation, and missed questions Responses to the AMA seemed to stop after a couple of hours, but many of the unanswered questions also focus on AI, and continue to paint a bleak picture of people's response to Galaxy AI and AI in general. Subscribe to our newsletter for Galaxy AI insight Subscribe to the newsletter for focused coverage of Galaxy AI: balanced analysis of its real-world value, clear security explanations, and practical tips on customizing or disabling features so you can make informed choices. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. For example, someone asks, "When are you going to shift focus away from what most people consider useless AI features," and another says "Why is there currently such an obsessive push for AI on your smartphones," while one person simply requests for Samsung to simply, "Stop putting AI in your phones." Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra $1100 $1300 Save $200 8/10 SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Display type Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display dimensions 6.9-inch Display resolution 3120 x 1440 RAM 12GB / 16GB Storage 256GB / 512GB / 1TB $1100 at Samsung $1100 at Best Buy $1100 at Amazon Expand Collapse Outside of Galaxy AI, it wouldn't be a conversation about recent Galaxy phones without someone requesting Bluetooth on the S Pen, a feature Samsung removed with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and another saying Samsung has stopped innovating, and how they have no reason to upgrade from their Galaxy Note 9. While Samsung fielded the AMA questions effectively, and there are certainly a range of Galaxy AI features that some may find useful, it's clear the company still has work to do in convincing others Galaxy AI adds value to its phones.