Samsung Electronics is reportedly in advanced discussions to integrate Perplexity AI as the default assistant on its upcoming Galaxy S26 smartphone lineup, a significant move that could see Google's Gemini being replaced on these Android devices. According to sources familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg, the South Korean technology giant aims to announce this wide-ranging partnership as early as this year, with the Galaxy S26 phones anticipated to launch in the first half of 2026.

The proposed collaboration extends beyond merely switching the default assistant. Plans reportedly include Samsung preloading the Perplexity AI application on its upcoming devices, integrating Perplexity's advanced search features directly into Samsung's native web browser, Samsung Internet, and weaving Perplexity's technology into Samsung's own Bixby virtual assistant. This deep integration signals a substantial commitment from Samsung to leverage Perplexity's capabilities across its ecosystem.

Further underscoring the depth of the potential partnership, Samsung is also expected to become one of Perplexity's most significant investors in an upcoming funding round. The AI startup is reportedly seeking to raise $500 million at a valuation of $14 billion, a testament to its rapid growth and the increasing investor interest in AI technologies.

This potential deal with Samsung would represent a major win for Perplexity, an AI-powered search engine, especially after encountering obstacles with other mobile partnerships. Notably, Perplexity's Chief Business Officer testified during Google's antitrust trial that existing contracts between Google and Motorola restricted Motorola from setting Perplexity as the default assistant on its devices. Consequently, Perplexity could only be preloaded on Motorola phones without prominent home screen placement, despite both companies reportedly desiring a deeper integration.

For Samsung, this strategic maneuver is seen as an effort to reduce its reliance on Google's services and to diversify its AI collaborators, mirroring Apple's approach of working with multiple AI developers. The partnership with Perplexity would be its largest mobile collaboration to date. Discussions between Samsung and Perplexity reportedly intensified following recent meetings between the companies in South Korea.

Beyond the immediate scope, the two companies have also reportedly explored more ambitious long-term projects. These include the possibility of co-developing an AI-infused operating system and creating an innovative AI agents app that could access and utilize functionalities from various AI assistants, not limited to Perplexity. However, these broader initiatives are considered to be further down the line, if they materialize.

The potential shift to Perplexity as the default AI on the Galaxy S26 series raises questions about the future of Google Gemini on Samsung devices. While Samsung has heavily incorporated Gemini features into its recent phones, such as the Galaxy S25 series, making Perplexity the default could sideline Gemini. Alternatively, Samsung might offer users a choice between multiple AI services, allowing them to select their preferred assistant.

Samsung's potential alliance with Perplexity could also introduce new dynamics in the competitive AI landscape. Apple has reportedly shown interest in working with Perplexity, considering the startup as a potential alternative to Google Search and possibly as a replacement for ChatGPT integration within Siri. Apple's services chief, Eddy Cue, has publicly stated that the company has been 'pretty impressed' with Perplexity's capabilities, indicating growing recognition for the AI firm's technology.