With the disaster of the exploding Samsung Galaxy Note 7, there were talks and rumors that the company might discontinue the Note series. But a recent upgrade program that Samsung offered in South Korea shows that the smartphone maker will be creating a Galaxy Note 8 that will launch in 2017 and could feature 4K resolution technology and artificial intelligence  (AI) capabilities.

Reuters reports that Samsung offered an upgraded program to Galaxy Note 7 customers in South Korea who traded in their recalled phone for a Galaxy S7 phone. Customers who traded in their Note for either the curved-screen or flat-screen version of the S7 can trade for a Galaxy S8 or Galaxy Note 8 when it launches next year.

Samsung said all users have to do is pay for half of the price of an S7 then they can exchange their devices for an S8 or a Note 8. This latest program offering for Samsung has reinforced their previous statement that they will not discontinue the Note series.

The new upgrade program is Samsung's latest attempt to retain its customers. The company has already stepped its marketing and promotion efforts for the Galaxy S smartphones to try and make up for some of the lost sales of the Note 7.

The collapse of the Note 7 is already costing Samsung $5.4 billion in operating profit between the third quarter of 2016 and the first quarter of 2017. But for customers to choose the Note 8 next year, Samsung needs to offer something pretty outstanding.

According to ValueWalk, some of the rumored specs of the Note 8 will include being Samsung's first smartphone device that will feature 4K resolution technology and an AI assistant. The idea of an AI is possible, as Samsung recently purchased Viv Labs, a company that is associated with outstanding AI abilities.

The Note 8 could also feature an upgraded camera, offering new touch gestures to facilitate zooming in and out. An increased storage would also be a good addition, as Samsung is already lagging behind Apple in this department.

Whether Samsung pushes through with offering 4K technology, an AI assistant or an upgraded camera, the company will need to do something to make the Note 8 more attractive. Otherwise, the disaster of the exploding Note 7 will keep on lingering on consumers minds when they think of the Note 8.