Samsung Electronics is nearing a deal to integrate Perplexity AI's search technology into its flagship smartphones, a move that could displace Google's Gemini as the default artificial intelligence assistant on the Galaxy S26 series expected to launch next year.
The partnership would mark a shift in Samsung's AI strategy, reducing the company's dependence on Google while offering consumers an alternative to the search giant's assistant technology that has become ubiquitous across Android devices.
Samsung plans to announce the Perplexity integrations as early as this year, with the goal of including the service as a default assistant option in the Galaxy S26 phone line slated to launch in the first half of 2026, according to people familiar with the matter12. The tech giant is also expected to be one of the biggest investors in Perplexity's new funding round, which aims to raise $500 million at a $14 billion valuation13.
The discussions extend beyond a simple assistant replacement. Samsung and Perplexity have explored integrating the startup's search features into Samsung's Internet browser and weaving the technology into the company's Bixby virtual assistant41. The companies have also discussed building an "AI-infused operating system" and AI agents that could work with multiple assistants56.
The potential deal mirrors Apple's strategy of working with multiple AI developers rather than relying solely on one partner. For Samsung, the move could help challenge what industry observers describe as Google's monopoly in the assistant segment1.
"Bixby still can't match the experiences that rivals are offering, hence, bringing another option would indeed help," according to SammyFans1. The integration would also directly compete with Google's Chrome browser through Samsung Internet1.
Perplexity's entry into Samsung's ecosystem follows the startup's recent partnership with Motorola, where its AI assistant will be preloaded on new devices12. The company has positioned itself as a competitor to established players like ChatGPT, Claude AI, and Gemini3.
Samsung and Perplexity began partnership discussions earlier this year, with recent meetings taking place in South Korea45. Samsung's investment arm, Samsung NEXT, previously backed Perplexity, indicating a strategic interest in the company's capabilities67.
The specific details of the arrangement have not been finalized and could still change, according to Bloomberg8. Google currently pays Samsung an "enormous sum" for default placement of its Gemini AI assistant, details that emerged during recent antitrust proceedings9.
