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The combination of recent technical developments prompts Samsung along with Pixel smartphone users to worry about their data privacy and artificial intelligence evolution. The findings from Trinity College Dublin show how Google takes user data through Android devices even when users have not consented.
The data collection process begins prior to any activity involving pre-installed Google applications or Google account sign-ins. The study discovered five separate identifiers among them advertising analytics cookies and tracking cookies which store user information without requesting permission.
The collection method affects users whose privacy concerns take precedence. The undisclosed tracking mechanisms in Google’s system challenge their claims of privacy-preserving on-device AI processing because users cannot validate the assurance of respecting their privacy. Privacy advocates express skepticism towards the tracking techniques because they operate without proper transparency and do not allow users to stop the tracking process.
In a related development, Apple disclosed to its users that Siri AI enhancements will reach markets later than previously planned. The planned improvements for 2025 which were set to release this year will now become available in 2026. Apple plans to enhance Siri through two features which will increase user context understanding and provide controlled multi-app operation. During the announcement Apple did not elaborate on the motives behind the postponement.
This delay has financial implications for Apple. Morgan Stanley reduced its price target for Apple stock from $275 to $252, citing the lack of compelling AI features that could boost iPhone sales. Numerous experts believed that Siri's delayed advanced capabilities would cause potential customers to avoid purchasing new iPhone versions.
The contrasting situations of Google and Apple highlight the challenges tech companies face in balancing innovation with user privacy and expectations. Google's undisclosed data collection practices on Android devices have raised privacy concerns, while Apple's delay in enhancing Siri's AI capabilities may affect its competitiveness in the AI-driven market.
Users of Samsung and Pixel devices, which operate on Google's Android platform, should be aware of these developments and consider their implications for data privacy and device functionality.
