Samsung May Drop Google Gemini for Perplexity AI on Galaxy S26
Smartphone makers are racing to bring powerful AI features directly to your pocket—but no one has nailed the formula just yet. Samsung, once an early backer of Google’s Gemini AI (which has largely sidelined its own Bixby assistant), may be planning a major shift. A new report from Bloomberg suggests Samsung is in talks to integrate Perplexity AI into its upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup.
Perplexity is an AI-powered search engine that runs on the same type of generative AI technology powering ChatGPT and Gemini. Unlike traditional chatbots, Perplexity emphasizes transparency, citing sources directly from across the web. It first drew attention during Google’s antitrust trial, when company executive Dmitry Shevelenko testified that Google had blocked Motorola from preinstalling Perplexity on its 2024 phones. That restriction is now history—Perplexity is preloaded on the 2025 Motorola Razr series.
Now, Samsung could be next.
According to Bloomberg, Samsung and Perplexity are nearing a deal that would deeply integrate the AI service into the Galaxy S26 experience. While Motorola currently uses Perplexity to enhance search within its Moto AI system, Samsung’s plans may go much further.
If finalized, the agreement would embed Perplexity within Samsung’s web browser and Bixby assistant—and potentially make it the default assistant on the Galaxy S26. As past legal proceedings have shown, most users stick with default settings, making this a significant opportunity for Perplexity to expand its reach.
The deal isn’t official yet, but executives from both companies have reportedly met in South Korea and agreed on a basic framework. The discussions go beyond just phones, too—they’re exploring broader integration into mobile operating systems and the creation of “agentic” AI systems that coordinate across multiple AI models.
The AI Arms Race Heats Up
Meanwhile, Google is working aggressively to embed Gemini across its ecosystem, still playing catch-up after OpenAI’s ChatGPT disrupted the search landscape. With its search business under increasing pressure—including three consecutive antitrust losses—Google is under tighter scrutiny around its smartphone partnerships.
Historically, Google’s deals with OEMs like Samsung required certain exclusive placements, including default status for services like Search and Assistant. That’s how Gemini became the default assistant on the Galaxy S25, effectively replacing Bixby. But following its recent legal concessions, Google has begun relaxing those restrictions, giving hardware partners more flexibility.
Samsung appears ready to take advantage. If the Perplexity deal goes through, it could mark a significant break from Google’s AI dominance on Android—potentially opening the door for a more diverse and competitive AI ecosystem.
The new Razr phones are already proving what this could look like: Motorola has packed in AI tools from Meta, Microsoft, Google, and Perplexity—all on one device. Samsung might soon follow suit, and the Galaxy S26 could be the company’s most AI-diverse phone yet.
