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Ricardo Aguilar
WriterMobile tech writer and analyst. I studied Psychology, but I've been working in the consumer tech field for the last 10 years. Interested in motor projects and new forms of mobility.
Karen Alfaro
WriterCommunications professional with a decade of experience as a copywriter, proofreader, and editor. As a travel and science journalist, I've collaborated with several print and digital outlets around the world. I'm passionate about culture, music, food, history, and innovative technologies.
Google remains the undisputed leader in the mobile AI race. And Samsung is one manufacturer making the most of Gemini Nano, the model behind major features expanding into Android territory.
Now, according to Bloomberg, Samsung plans to finalize a partnership with Perplexity AI to preinstall its app and integrate search functions within the native One UI browser.
The deal. Bloomberg reports that Samsung Electronics Co. is close to forming an alliance with Perplexity AI Inc. The companies aim to roll out the negotiated integrations later this year, in time for the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S26 family in early 2026.
While neither company has revealed financial details, sources say this would mark Perplexity’s biggest smartphone deal to date, surpassing its recently announced agreement with Motorola.
The objectives. The deal rests on two main pillars. The first is integrating Perplexity’s technology into Samsung’s browser. Perplexity stands out by taking on a conversational role, unlike traditional browsers. It doesn’t just act as a search engine but serves search needs by asking questions.
Second, Samsung plans to preinstall the Perplexity assistant on its phones, replacing Bixby. The assistant combines voice, text, and camera functions with web search. It more closely resembles Gemini’s Live mode than the current, limited Bixby.
AI agents. Manufacturers such as Honor see AI agents as the future of mobile technology. These agents act as contextual systems that interact with the device. For example, a smartphone could lower screen brightness when the user says it’s too high—without needing a specific command.
Bloomberg reports that Samsung and Perplexity have discussed creating their own operating system and an AI agent based on Perplexity’s technology. While this remains speculative, integrating Perplexity into Samsung’s browser and assistant appears more realistic.
Samsung’s dichotomy. Samsung leads in AI systems, having unlocked the full potential of Google’s models. It offers automatic call translation, video and photo editing tools, and natural language understanding. While competitors offer similar features, Samsung delivers native integration, making AI just another function instead of a separate add-on.
But there’s a catch. Samsung still relies on proprietary tools like its own search engine and Bixby. This creates friction with the seamless integration of Gemini and Chrome. While the tools can coexist, Google’s apps offer more complete functionality.
Teaming up with Perplexity could give Samsung a real alternative to Gemini and help Bixby compete more effectively.
Perplexity isn’t alone. The company recently signed a deal with Motorola to power the American brand’s AI suite. That enables smartphones with integrated AI to summarize notifications, provide text summaries, analyze screen context, and plan events.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also reports that Apple has been approached about replacing Google Search with Perplexity and using it instead of ChatGPT in Siri.
Image | Perplexity | Max Whitehead (Unsplash)
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