(Credit: May James/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images)
Your next Samsung phone may be a little less Google-centric. According to Bloomberg, Samsung is nearing a deal with AI company Perplexity to better integrate its services into next year's Galaxy S26 series of Android phones.
A previous report said both Samsung and Motorola were negotiating with Perplexity on a deal to better integrate its AI tools into their smartphones. We've since seen the latter bring Perplexity to its new Motorola Razr series. Samsung has yet to officially announce a partnership, but this report suggests it could happen before the end of 2025 if a deal moves ahead.
According to sources speaking to Bloomberg, Samsung wants to preload Perplexity on its phones and also integrate the company's search functionality directly into its Internet Browser.
It may also integrate Perplexity into Samsung's Bixby assistant. Samsung has focused less on Bixby in recent years as it has embraced Google’s Gemini AI assistant, but a deal with Perplexity could possibly supercharge its alternative, giving it more powerful search functionality.
The sources say the two companies are also in the early stages of discussing the development of a new "AI-infused" operating system. This isn't the first time Samsung has considered alternatives to Google OSes; the company experimented with Tizen throughout the 2010s.
The report says a deal between Perplexity and Samsung could be finalized soon. However, it’s unlikely this deal would be ready for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, which are rumored to land in August. The Galaxy S26 series will likely be revealed in the first few months of 2026.
While a deal with Motorola was likely important for Perplexity, Samsung is the world's biggest phone manufacturer. It took four of the top spots in the global best-selling phones of Q1 2025. If Perplexity becomes the default on all Samsung devices, it would be a major push to see more users embrace the AI company's search tools.
Last week, Perplexity AI introduced its new Labs project, designed to combine computer code, reports, spreadsheets, and more. The feature is currently exclusive to Pro subscribers.