Samsung is reportedly planning to replace Google Assistant with Perplexity AI on its upcoming Galaxy S26 series, signaling a major shift in its approach to AI-powered features.
According to a new report from Bloomberg, Samsung is in talks to preload Perplexity’s app and AI assistant on future Galaxy phones.
The company may also integrate Perplexity’s search tech into the Samsung Internet browser and potentially into Bixby, Samsung’s own voice assistant.
Perplexity is a fast-growing AI search tool that offers smart answers with real-time data and shows sources — a level of transparency that Google and others don’t always provide. The app is already available on Android and iOS and is being called a serious competitor to Google Search.
This move could make Perplexity the default assistant on Galaxy S26 devices, though it’s unclear whether it would fully replace Google Assistant or simply work alongside it.
This isn’t Samsung’s first time exploring Google alternatives. In 2023, it considered switching to Bing, causing concern inside Google. Now, Samsung seems more serious about diversifying its AI partnerships — even if it doesn’t fully break away from Google.
Motorola recently shipped its 2025 Razr phones with Perplexity preinstalled, along with Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Moto AI. But while Motorola gave users many choices, Samsung is expected to take a more focused approach.
As AI competition heats up, especially with Google launching new AI tools like Gemini Ultra, Samsung’s partnership with Perplexity could be a key move to stay competitive. A formal announcement may come later this year.
If finalized, this could reshape the AI experience on Samsung Galaxy phones, offering users a fresh alternative to Google’s ecosystem.
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