Google’s new TalkBack characteristic will not hit Galaxy telephones

To make Android extra accessible to folks with imaginative and prescient issues, Google created TalkBack, a display reader service. Earlier at this time, the corporate introduced an replace to TalkBack that leverages its Gemini AI mannequin to generate descriptions of pictures proven on display. What Google didn’t point out in its announcement is the truth that this characteristic received’t be accessible on all Android units — specifically, these from Samsung.

TalkBack is a part of the Android Accessibility Suite app, which is preloaded on most Android units that bundle Google Cell Providers (GMS). Nonetheless, it isn’t preloaded on Samsung Galaxy units that run One UI, Samsung’s fork of Android. The rationale why is as a result of Samsung preloads its personal suite of accessibility instruments, which incorporates its personal customized TalkBack service. Google lets OEMs skip out on preloading the Android Accessibility Suite as long as they embody particular accessibility instruments (like a display reader) that meet sure standards.

The TalkBack service that’s preloaded on Samsung units working One UI has a lot of the options accessible in Google’s model offered via the Android Accessibility Suite app. Nonetheless, it’s not the identical app, and Samsung is chargeable for updating it slightly than Google. Samsung’s model of TalkBack is up to date via the Galaxy Retailer whereas Google’s model is up to date via the Play Retailer.

Though the Android Accessibility Suite could be put in on Samsung Galaxy units via the Google Play Retailer, Samsung’s TalkBack service overrides Google’s one, that means the latter can’t be used alongside it. This was doubtless finished so customers wouldn’t see two variations of TalkBack in Settings, nevertheless it sadly implies that Google’s model of TalkBack — together with its new Gemini AI-powered picture description characteristic — can’t be used on Samsung units, at the least for now.

TalkBack’s new AI-powered picture description characteristic will work on most different Android 11+ units, although. On the Google Pixel 9 collection, TalkBack will leverage Gemini Nano with multimodality mannequin to generate descriptions absolutely on-device.

It stays to be seen whether or not Samsung will replace its personal TalkBack display reader service so as to add an AI picture description characteristic. It’s attainable the corporate will, although whether or not it’d leverage Google’s Gemini AI or one other AI mannequin is up within the air. Hopefully we’ll discover out quickly at SDC 2024, the place Samsung is anticipated to unveil its subsequent model of One UI.