Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Puts Google’s Gemini Center Stage

When Samsung executives took the stage in San Francisco this week, they weren’t just unveiling another smartphone. They were making a statement about where the future of mobile computing is headed—and who’s going to power it.

“The S26 is notable for the sheer number of AI systems packed into a single device.” — Industry Analyst

Three AI Engines, One Phone

Samsung’s Galaxy S26 represents a calculated bet on artificial intelligence as the defining feature of modern smartphones. But what’s most striking isn’t just the AI—it’s Samsung’s strategy of hedging across multiple providers rather than relying on any single one.

The device melds together three distinct AI engines: Google’s Gemini for agentic tasks like booking rides and acting across apps, Perplexity for web-based queries, and an upgraded version of Samsung’s own Bixby as the on-device assistant powered by a more capable in-house large language model.

This multi-agent approach reflects just how central the AI arms race has become to selling smartphones—and how aggressively Samsung is playing the field.

The Gemini Advantage

Autonomous action is the headline feature. With the S26, Gemini can do something it couldn’t before: take autonomous action inside third-party apps, not just Samsung’s own. Users can summon Gemini, ask it to book an Uber ride, and let the AI handle the entire process in the background—opening the app, selecting options, scrolling through screens—while the user does something else.

Cross-app integration extends beyond ridesharing. Charles Uptegrove, a product manager for Samsung’s flagship devices in the U.S., explained that Gemini can work directly with native Samsung apps such as Calendar, Reminder, and Samsung Notes. Users can ask Gemini to find and add an important event directly to their calendar, or pull information from a YouTube video and add it to Samsung Notes.

Expansion plans are already in motion. Samsung said it plans to expand the autonomous capabilities to additional ride-share apps and eventually food delivery services like Instacart and DoorDash.

“A user can ask Gemini to find and add an important event directly to their calendar. Consumers can also use Gemini to pull information from a YouTube video, such as asking to summarize its content and add it to Samsung Notes.” — Charles Uptegrove, Samsung

A Complicated Partnership

The relationship between Samsung and Google hasn’t always been smooth. Samsung spent years pushing its own Tizen operating system and Bixby assistant in an effort to carve out independence from Google’s ecosystem. But in the AI era, the two companies have locked arms more tightly than ever.

Samsung was the first phone maker to ship Gemini when it launched the Galaxy S24 in January 2024. It deepened the integration with the S25 a year later, making Gemini accessible with a long-press of the side button. Now with the S26, the partnership has reached its most sophisticated level yet.

Even as Samsung deepens its Google ties, it’s simultaneously courting Perplexity to diversify its options—a reminder that in the fast-moving AI landscape, no partnership is permanent.

The Apple Question

The timing is significant. In January, Apple confirmed a multiyear agreement reportedly worth $1 billion annually to use Google’s Gemini models as the foundation for an overhauled Siri. But that upgrade timeline keeps slipping—some features are now being pushed to May or even September.

Samsung’s S26, available for pre-order now with general availability on March 11, means Gemini’s most advanced agentic capabilities will reach consumers first through Samsung handsets. Apple commands roughly 25% of the global active smartphone installed base to Samsung’s 18%, and iPhone users tend to spend significantly more on apps and services. The Apple deal is the bigger prize, but Samsung is where Google gets to prove its AI works in the real world right now.

Samsung said it has reached 400 million Galaxy AI-enabled devices globally, and expects to double its mobile devices powered by Gemini to 800 million units this year.

“Samsung is where Google gets to prove its AI works in the real world right now—a live showcase for the technology that will eventually underpin Siri’s comeback.”

Beyond the AI

The S26 Ultra introduces what Samsung calls the mobile industry’s first built-in Privacy Display, which controls how individual pixels disperse light to keep the screen readable for the user while obscuring it from side angles. It’s a practical feature that addresses a real-world privacy concern.

But make no mistake: the AI is the story. As smartphone hardware becomes increasingly commoditized, Samsung is betting that intelligent software—powered by Google’s models—will be what convinces consumers to upgrade.

For now, one thing is clear: Samsung has made its move. The rest of the industry is watching to see what happens next.

This article was reported by the ArtificialDaily editorial team. For more information, visit CNBC.