Samsung is reportedly nearing a significant agreement with AI startup Perplexity, a development that could see Google’s Gemini AI replaced by Perplexity’s assistant on the upcoming Galaxy S26 series, expected in early 2026. This potential shift, initially reported by Bloomberg, could redefine AI integration on Samsung’s flagship devices and challenge Google’s dominance in the Android ecosystem.
The deal may also include a substantial investment by Samsung into Perplexity, which is reportedly seeking $500 million in funding at a valuation around $14 billion. For consumers, this could mean a distinct AI experience on future Galaxy phones, moving away from the current Google-centric model. However, this news surfaces amidst serious security concerns regarding Perplexity’s Android application, adding a layer of caution to its potential widespread adoption.
Discussions have reportedly covered deep integration, including Perplexity’s search features within the Samsung Internet browser and its technology potentially augmenting Samsung’s Bixby assistant. Representatives from both companies are said to have met in South Korea to advance these negotiations.
Motorola Deal Offers Preview, Highlights Challenges
Perplexity has already made inroads into the smartphone market, recently partnering with Motorola to pre-install its AI search assistant on new Razr models. This deal includes a complimentary three-month trial of Perplexity Pro for Motorola users.
However, testimony from Perplexity’s Chief Business Officer, Dmitry Shevelenko, during Google’s antitrust trial, revealed that Google’s current contracts with Motorola prevent Perplexity from being the default AI assistant or appearing on the home screen initially.
Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas told CNBC in April that the Motorola deal focuses on user acquisition, stating, “We’re not making money off their sales or anything like that. We’re looking for usage, and they’re looking for introducing amazing new, cool features, so it’s like a win-win for both of us.”
His vision is for the phone to become “an answer machine, personal assistant and a research agent.” This strategy is part of Perplexity’s broader expansion, including a partnership with Deutsche Telekom for an AI-focused smartphone slated for release later in 2025.
Antitrust Scrutiny and Competitive Landscape
Samsung’s potential move occurs as Google faces intense antitrust scrutiny over its multi-billion dollar deals for default AI placements. Court testimony revealed Google has paid Samsung “enormous sums” monthly since January 2025 for Gemini AI pre-installation.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) argues this replicates past monopolistic search practices. Google Vice President Peter Fitzgerald confirmed these payments and acknowledged that Motorola was also engaging with AI firms, including Perplexity.
The DOJ is advocating for remedies such as a ban on exclusive default AI deals. DOJ lawyer David Dahlquist stated in court, “We’re here to restore competition to these markets,” aiming to “allow that block of ice to thaw.”
He further argued that antitrust laws must adapt to technological advancements, likening the current dominance of internet and search companies to that of past industrial giants. Google’s lead counsel, John Schmidtlein, has dismissed the DOJ’s proposals as “extreme” and “fundamentally flawed,” when the Google antitrust trial began.
The competitive field is crowded; internal Google documents showed that OpenAI, Microsoft, and Meta had also approached Samsung with offers for their chatbots on Galaxy devices, as reported by The Information. Samsung’s venture arm, Samsung NEXT, had previously invested in Perplexity, signaling an existing relationship.
Perplexity’s Promise and Potential Pitfalls
Perplexity launched its AI Assistant for Android in January, which CEO Aravind Srinivas described as a transition “from an answer engine to a natively integrated assistant.”
The assistant offers multimodal interaction via text, voice, and camera. While innovative, Perplexity spokesperson Sara Platnick acknowledged at the time that it was a “starting point,” with more app integrations and functionality planned.
Despite its advancements, significant security questions surround Perplexity’s Android app. A security audit by Appknox identified critical vulnerabilities. Appknox CEO Subho Halder elaborated on the findings, warning that their testing exposed users to risks like data theft and exploitation, and urged developers to address the issues swiftly, advising users to “be cautious about using the app, particularly for sensitive activities.”
Perplexity has also faced past allegations of aggressive web scraping and ignoring publisher protocols, which the company has denied.
