Samsung is betting the future of smartphone AI won’t belong to a single assistant.
The tech giant said it will expand Galaxy AI by adding Perplexity to upcoming flagship Galaxy devices, giving users another built-in option for completing tasks. Instead of steering customers toward one default assistant, Samsung is positioning Galaxy AI as a layer that can coordinate multiple agents.
Perplexity will be accessible through a dedicated wake-up phrase and a hardware shortcut, with integration across select first-party apps. For enterprise mobility teams, the change shows deeper assistant integration at the operating-system level and new oversight considerations as AI becomes embedded in everyday workflows.
An open and inclusive AI ecosystem
Samsung described the expansion as part of its effort to build an “open and inclusive” AI ecosystem at the OS layer. Galaxy AI is designed to recognize context and coordinate actions in the background, reducing repetitive steps.
The company said nearly eight in ten users relied on more than two types of AI agents, arguing that behavior supports offering “a choice of integrated agents.”
Won-Joon Choi, President and COO of Samsung’s Mobile eXperience (MX) Business, said the goal is to provide “more choice, flexibility and control,” with Galaxy AI acting as an orchestrator that connects partner capabilities into a unified experience.
‘Hey Plex’ joins the mix
Perplexity will roll out on upcoming flagship Galaxy devices and can be activated with the wake phrase “Hey Plex” or by pressing and holding the side button.
Samsung said the assistant will be embedded in Samsung Notes, Clock, Gallery, Reminder, and Calendar, along with select third-party apps. The integration is intended to support multi-step workflows across apps without requiring manual switching.
The company did not specify which models would support the feature, name participating third-party apps, or outline differences by device generation. Additional rollout details are expected later.
What this means for enterprise mobility
As a built-in capability, Perplexity would sit closer to the system layer than a typical downloadable app. Samsung referenced “framework-level connections across the device,” suggesting tighter integration that could shape daily task flows and IT support demands.
Cross-app execution may streamline note-taking, scheduling, and reminders. It also raises operational questions. When an assistant interacts with multiple core apps, IT leaders typically seek clarity on how prompts are processed, where outputs are stored, and what controls are available.
The announcement emphasized user features but did not detail data-handling practices, administrative settings, or policy controls tied to the integration.
Assistants become infrastructure
The update reflects a broader shift in mobile computing. Assistants are moving from chat interfaces and into the system layer, coordinating actions across apps and device functions.
Samsung described Galaxy AI as context-aware and embedded within the Galaxy environment while incorporating partner services. As more agents operate at the platform level, differentiation may center on orchestration and interoperability — with room for additional partners over time.
Samsung’s late-February Unpacked event is shaping up to be an inflection point for flagship phones, with the Galaxy S26 line rumored to showcase smarter on-device AI, fresh silicon, and a refined design language.
