Earlier this week, smartphone manufacturer Tecno hosted its Autumn event in Nairobi, unveiling a suite of innovative products under its first-ever AI-powered ecosystem.
Tecno, a subsidiary of Transsion Holdings, Africa’s largest smartphone seller, introduced several new devices including the second-generation foldable phones Phantom V Fold2 and V Flip2, along with the Camon 30 and Spark 30 series and Megabook T16 laptops.
However, the spotlight was on the company’s announcement of Tecno AI—a collection of artificial intelligence features designed to enhance user experience across their devices.
Tecno AI: A Vision for Practical Artificial Intelligence
Tecno AI is more than just a feature; it is a comprehensive suite of tools aimed at making artificial intelligence an integral part of everyday life. “We are excited about the future of AI and how it can benefit consumers in Africa,” said Peter Shi, Tecno’s Brand Manager.
“Our goal is to make practical AI accessible to all, integrating these technologies into daily life to improve quality of life and simplify everyday tasks.”
Introducing Ella: Tecno’s AI Assistant with Google Gemini Integration
One of the key highlights of Tecno AI is the introduction of the in-house AI assistant, Ella.
Now powered by Google’s Gemini AI, Ella is capable of understanding and processing natural language commands, making it highly effective for back-and-forth conversations.
With Ella, Tecno is bringing a new level of AI-driven assistance to users, offering features like real-time translations, which work for both phone calls and in-person conversations by transcribing speech into text.
Ella is also designed to simplify tasks by intelligently managing commands across different apps.
In a demonstration video shared by Tecno, the AI assistant is shown handling complex tasks, such as hailing a ride, by displaying available options across multiple ride-hailing apps on a single dashboard.
This seamless integration highlights the practical utility of Tecno’s AI, setting it apart from competitors.
AI Tools for Writing and Searching
Borrowing from Apple’s AI-powered Writing Tools, Tecno AI includes features that allow users to summarize both local and web content, offering capabilities for editing, proofreading, rewriting, and even generating new content from scratch.
Also Read: Tecno Phantom V Fold 2 and V Flip 2 launched in Kenya: Specs, pricing and availability
Additionally, Tecno’s AI Search feature, similar to Circle to Search found on other smartphones, allows users to look up information from what’s displayed on their phone screens with just a swipe.
AI-Driven Creativity with AI Artboard
Tecno is also venturing into the creative potential of AI with the launch of AI Artboard, a feature that enables users to create images from text prompts.
While Tecno has not confirmed the specific image-generation model behind AI Artboard, the integration with Google’s Gemini suggests a reliance on Google Images for its creative output.
AI Image Editing and Manipulation
Another standout feature is Tecno’s AI Image Editing toolkit, which incorporates tools borrowed from Google Photos.
Users can manipulate images with simple natural language commands such as “brighten the skin tone” or “remove the car from the background.”
The toolkit includes AI Erase for removing unwanted elements, AI Cutout for extracting selected parts of an image, and even video generation capabilities, making Tecno AI a versatile tool for both casual and creative users.
Tecno’s Unique Approach to AI in Smartphones
While Tecno is not the first to integrate AI into smartphones—Samsung pioneered the concept with Galaxy AI, followed by Apple’s Apple Intelligence—Tecno’s approach sets it apart.
Unlike other brands that restrict their AI features to high-end devices, Tecno aims to make its AI tools available across a broader range of products, ensuring that more users can benefit from the advancements in AI technology.
