Galaxy S26 Integrates Perplexity as AI Assistant
Recently, Samsung has been reported to be on the verge of reaching a collaboration goal with the AI search startup Perplexity. The objective is not only to invest in this rising AI star but also to plan the integration of Perplexity AI’s search technology into the upcoming Galaxy S26 series smartphones as the default AI assistant.
The details of this collaboration are still under negotiation, but the potential impact could be profound, especially considering Samsung’s long-standing close partnership with Google. This move has been interpreted by the public as a significant strategic shift for Samsung, actively seeking diverse partners in the AI era to avoid singular reliance.
Samsung is Set to Partner with Perplexity, Deeply Integrating AI Functions into Its Services
According to a report from Bloomberg, the negotiations between both parties include pre-installing the Perplexity app and assistant on future Samsung devices and integrating its search functionality into Samsung’s web browser. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that discussions also cover the incorporation of Perplexity’s technology into Samsung’s own Bixby virtual assistant.
For Perplexity AI, founded in 2022, this is undoubtedly the most critical collaboration in the mobile device sector to date. In fact, news of the two parties discussing collaboration details has been circulating since April of this year, when Samsung was considering participating in a new funding round for Perplexity, which plans to raise between $500 million and $1 billion at a valuation of $18 billion.
Current reports indicate that Perplexity’s AI functions are likely to be integrated into the new Samsung Galaxy S26 devices.
Image / Samsung Electronics
In recent weeks, the two companies have held talks in South Korea, reportedly coming closer to finalizing their collaboration. They have also discussed jointly creating an AI-integrated operating system and AI agents to leverage a series of AI services from Perplexity. However, details have not yet been fully finalized and may still change.
Foreign media outlet Tech in Asia commented that Samsung’s collaboration with Perplexity may be aimed at balancing its positioning in the AI field, reducing reliance on Google, and ensuring it is not limited to a single AI service provider, reflecting Samsung’s emphasis on AI technology.
Perplexity Becomes a Rising Star, Engaging in Collaborations with Many Tech Companies
As an AI startup founded in 2022, Perplexity AI is rapidly becoming a “rising star” in the tech community. In addition to its collaboration with Samsung, Perplexity reached a partnership agreement with Motorola, a subsidiary of Lenovo Group, back in April, which involves pre-installing Perplexity as an alternative assistant to Google Gemini and providing a dedicated user interface for Motorola’s Razr foldable phone.
Even Apple’s rival Samsung has shown interest in Perplexity AI. Apple has discussed using Perplexity as an alternative to Google Search and integrating a substitute for ChatGPT in Siri voice assistant. Eddy Cue, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Services, even publicly stated during a recent antitrust trial against Google, “We are impressed with Perplexity’s results, so we have already started discussions about what they are doing.”
Image / Shutterstock
The integration of AI assistants is becoming a key battleground in the smartphone industry. This indicates that the focus of traditional smartphone competition is gradually shifting from hardware specifications to AI services and experiences. Samsung’s proclamation of the “AI for All” vision at the 2025 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), aiming to integrate AI technology throughout its product ecosystem, may be one of the signs of this shift.
This article is a collaboration reposted from: Digital Age
Source: Bloomberg (1), Bloomberg (2), Tech in Asia
This article’s initial draft was written by AI, edited by: Chen Jianjun