Samsung is teasing the Galaxy S26 series with a focus on camera improvements, but the rollout has been overshadowed by concerns over the company’s increasing reliance on AI-generated content in its marketing materials. While previews of features like a “Privacy Display” and low-light video enhancements have surfaced, the presentation has been muddied by what one observer called “a ton of absolute AI slop.”
The company has been sharing teasers on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube, hinting at upgrades to the upcoming phone line. Beyond the Privacy Display – which allows users to obscure their screen from side-angle viewers – Samsung has highlighted potential advancements in low-light video capabilities. However, a significant portion of the promotional material appears to be created using artificial intelligence, raising questions about the authenticity of the showcased improvements.
Recent examples include AI-generated videos for Samsung’s smart home products, reimagining classic tales like “Beauty and the Beast” and other fairy tales. These videos, while visually striking, exhibit telltale signs of AI generation, including inconsistencies in texture and motion. The Verge has also noted inconsistent disclosures from Samsung regarding the use of AI in these promotional videos.
This trend extends to the low-light video teaser for the Galaxy S26. A clip demonstrating improved brightness in nighttime scenes, featuring a skateboarder, is explicitly labeled as “generated with the assistance of AI tools.” This indicates the footage isn’t a direct capture from the phone’s camera, but rather an AI-constructed representation of the potential outcome. The teaser, while showing a noticeable improvement in visibility, doesn’t represent a real-world comparison of the S26’s capabilities.
The use of AI in these teasers is particularly noteworthy because it obscures the actual performance of the Galaxy S26’s camera. Instead of showcasing genuine footage captured by the device, Samsung is presenting an idealized, AI-enhanced version of what the camera *could* achieve. This approach raises concerns about transparency and the potential for misleading consumers.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra is specifically highlighted as receiving a significant upgrade to its Privacy Display. The feature, demonstrated in a YouTube video, allows users to toggle the screen’s visibility, effectively blocking the content from being viewed by anyone not directly facing the device. This could be particularly useful in public spaces like trains, where over-the-shoulder viewing is common.
While the Privacy Display appears to be a functional and practical addition, the broader context of Samsung’s marketing strategy casts a shadow over the excitement. The reliance on AI-generated content suggests a shift in focus from demonstrating tangible improvements to creating visually appealing, albeit artificial, representations of those improvements.
Leaks suggest the Galaxy S26 series may not represent a substantial upgrade over the S25 line in terms of overall design and specifications. However, the S26 Ultra is expected to receive at least one major enhancement with the Privacy Display. The camera improvements, particularly in low-light video and zoom capabilities, are also being heavily promoted, despite the caveats surrounding the AI-generated teasers.
Samsung has confirmed a launch event for the Galaxy S26 series on . It remains to be seen whether the actual performance of the Galaxy S26 will live up to the AI-enhanced promises made in the promotional materials. The company’s approach raises a critical question: how much of what we’re seeing is genuine innovation, and how much is simply a digital illusion?
