Samsung Charges for Galaxy AI, OpenAI Launches Tone-Aware Translate, RISA Labs Raises $11M to Revolutionize Oncology — AI Monetization Hits Mainstream

Samsung makes Call & Photo Assist paid, OpenAI drops ChatGPT Translate with tone control, and RISA Labs raises $11M to unify oncology AI via FHIR. AI is no longer just a perk — it’s a subscription. 🚀 #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Samsung #OpenAI #HealthcareAI #AImonetization #TechTrends2026

Samsung Makes Galaxy AI Paid: Call Assist and Photo Assist Now Premium Features on S24

Samsung has transitioned its Galaxy AI suite from fully free to freemium, launching paid access to enhanced tools—Call Assist and Photo Assist—on the S24 lineup as of January 2026. While 13 core AI functions remain free through 2025, these premium features rely on Google Gemini 3.x and require either a one-time purchase or $8/month subscription.

What’s changing with Galaxy AI?

• Free tier: 13 basic AI tools (e.g., live translation, text summarization) remain accessible without charge.
• Paid tier: Call Assist (real-time transcription, tone adjustment), Photo Assist (AI-powered object removal, lighting enhancement), and Writing Assist are now optional add-ons.
• Underlying tech: All enhanced features use Google Gemini, not Samsung’s in-house models, reducing R&D costs but increasing licensing dependency.

What’s driving this shift?

• Hardware cost pressure: High-performance NPUs and Google’s OEM licensing fees have raised per-device AI costs by an estimated 12–15% since 2024.
• Revenue diversification: With smartphone margins declining, Samsung aims to generate recurring software revenue. Early projections suggest $120M in first-half 2026 revenue from 5% of 30M S24 users subscribing.
• Scale strategy: Samsung targets 800 million Galaxy AI-enabled devices by end-2026. Monetizing AI allows this expansion without raising handset prices.

How does this compare to competitors?

Apple is integrating Gemini into Siri but has not announced paid tiers. Google offers Gemini Advanced at $19.99/month, but only via Pixel devices. Samsung’s approach is unique: bundling AI features directly into hardware ownership rather than requiring a separate subscription service.

What’s next?

• Q2 2026: Writing Assist becomes a $4.99/month productivity bundle.
• Q3 2026: Galaxy S26 launch introduces Gemini-Live (real-time on-device summarization, video context extraction) as paid-only.
• Q4 2026: Unified AI subscription at $9.99/month for all enhanced features.
• 2027+: AI-as-a-Service extends to SmartThings appliances and wearables, enabling cross-device billing.

Risks remain

Consumer backlash is possible if users perceive premium AI as essential functionality. Samsung mitigates this by preserving a robust free tier and clearly labeling upgrades as "enhanced." Licensing volatility with Google remains a long-term risk, prompting Samsung to develop incremental Bixby-Live components in parallel.

This model signals a broader industry pivot: AI features are no longer just marketing perks—they’re monetized services embedded in hardware ecosystems.

OpenAI Launches ChatGPT Translate with 50+ Languages and Mobile Voice Input

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Translate, a standalone web tool supporting 55+ languages with mobile voice input and tone-aware output. Unlike Google Translate’s 200+ languages, OpenAI focuses on conversational fidelity: users can select formal, casual, academic, or child-friendly tones with one tap, reducing post-edit effort by ≈30% based on internal usability tests.

What Makes It Different from Competitors?

ChatGPT Translate offers four output formats—inline text, formatted block, downloadable .txt/.pdf, and API-style prompts—targeting developers and e-commerce merchants. Its mobile-only voice input (no desktop support in v1) and lack of image/document upload distinguish it from Google and Microsoft. However, its integration with Shopify’s 1M+ merchants positions it to capture 2–3M additional MAUs in 2026.

How Is It Priced and Monetized?

Available as a subscription add-on to ChatGPT Plus/Pro, pricing remains undisclosed. Revenue projections estimate $12M ARR by Q2 2026, scaling to $22M by Q4, assuming 0.4% of 300M ChatGPT users adopt the $5–$10/month tier. Region-specific pricing (e.g., $3/month in India) is planned for Q4 2026 to address price sensitivity.

What’s Coming Next?

• Q3 2026: Desktop voice input and API-style output general availability.
• Q4 2026: 80+ languages (adding Arabic, Portuguese, Korean, Swahili).
• Mid-2027: Image/document upload support.
• 15% of target merchants (Shopify/BigCommerce) expected to adopt B2B integrations by year-end.

What Are the Risks?

Feature gaps in desktop voice and document handling may limit adoption among power users. Regulatory scrutiny over AI-generated translations could arise, prompting OpenAI to implement transparent data-use logs and opt-out controls. Competitors retain broader language coverage and cross-platform voice support, but OpenAI’s niche—context-aware, tone-adjusted translation—is a strategic differentiator in high-value segments like e-commerce and professional communication.

RISA Labs Secures $11.1M to Unify AI Oncology Decision Tools via FHIR-Based OS

RISA Labs, a Palo Alto-based startup, raised $11.1M in Series A funding to deploy an AI operating system that integrates imaging, genomics, pathology, and EMR data into a single clinical decision layer. The platform targets hospital oncology units burdened by fragmented software stacks, aiming to reduce case review time by 3–5 minutes per patient and cut documentation workload by 30%, translating to ~$75k saved per 1,000 consults.

What regulatory path is RISA following?

RISA is pursuing FDA 510(k) clearance using Qure.ai’s lung-cancer AI approval as a precedent. Early engagement with the FDA’s Pre-Submission Program aims to compress review timelines to 12 months, with clearance targeted for Q4 2026.

How does funding in AI oncology compare across sectors?

Within two months, $348M flowed into AI-driven oncology: RISA ($11.1M), Insilico Medicine/Servier ($32M), and Parabilis Medicines ($305M). While Parabilis funds peptide therapies and Insilico focuses on drug discovery, RISA’s model is diagnostic orchestration—complementing, not competing with, therapeutic developers.

What is the go-to-market strategy?

RISA’s pilot rollout targets 3–5 academic centers in Q2 2026, releasing a FHIR-based, zero-trust SDK with OAuth2 tokenization and on-premises edge processing. Adoption hinges on demonstrable workflow efficiency, not EHR replacement. Pilot outcomes will trigger a projected $30–50M Series B.

How do ecosystem players interconnect?

RISA can ingest Qure.ai’s FDA-cleared radiology AI outputs via FHIR APIs. Joint data-sharing with Insilico could link diagnostic insights to novel drug candidates. No direct vendor competition exists; partnerships are more strategic than disruptive.

What are key adoption risks and mitigations?

• EHR resistance: RISA overlays, doesn’t replace, Epic/Cerner.
• Data privacy: Zero-trust architecture and tokenized FHIR endpoints mitigate HIPAA exposure.
• Capital runway: Series B contingent on pilot metrics: ≥3 sites, ≥5,000 cases processed.

What should stakeholders do now?

• Hospital CIOs: Evaluate RISA’s SDK for FHIR compatibility ahead of Q2 2026 release.
• Investors: Monitor pilot enrollment and documentation savings as Series B triggers.
• Regulators: Engage RISA’s pre-submission docket to standardize data provenance for AI diagnostics.
• Competitors: Explore API integrations to avoid siloed solutions in diagnostic pipelines.

What else is happening?

• Baidu’s ERNIE 5.0 Ranks #2 Globally in Creative Writing, Outperforming GPT-5.1 on LMArena
• OpenAI Announces $1.4T AI Factory Plan, Seeking U.S. Manufacturers for First Personal AI Devices by Late 2028