Samsung Electronics is actively considering utilizing services from providers other than Google for the artificial intelligence (AI) functions in its Galaxy smartphone series. 

Bloomberg reported on June 2 (local time), citing two anonymous sources, that Samsung Electronics is discussing plans to integrate the AI assistant service of U.S. startup Perplexity AI into the Galaxy S26, scheduled for release in the first half of next year. Bloomberg added that while Samsung Electronics and Perplexity have not yet decided on specific details, they are close to a broad agreement and plan to announce this as early as this year. Perplexity is an AI search startup founded in 2022 by Aravind Srinivas and others from OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, and is in competition with Google and others.

According to Bloomberg, Samsung Electronics is specifically considering pre-installing Perplexity’s applications and assistant services on smartphones. They are also discussing integrating Perplexity’s search function into Samsung’s web browser and applying Perplexity’s technology to Samsung Electronics’ AI voice assistant, Bixby.

In return, Samsung Electronics is expected to participate as the largest investor in Perplexity’s funding round. Bloomberg reported that Perplexity is seeking to raise a total of $500 million (approximately 700 billion won) from Samsung Electronics, valuing the company at $14 billion (approximately 19 trillion won). Bloomberg also mentioned that Apple is showing interest in collaborating with Perplexity, exploring the possibility of using it as an alternative to Google search or as a substitute for ChatGPT integrated into the voice assistant Siri.

Bloomberg stated that the partnership with Perplexity could help Samsung Electronics reduce its dependence on Google and pave the way for collaboration with various AI developers, similar to Apple’s strategy. For Perplexity, the contract with Samsung would be the largest mobile collaboration case since its founding.