Samsung Galaxy S26 Becomes a Full-Fledged AI Agent Powered by Gemini

Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy S26 smartphone lineup with artificial intelligence at its core. The flagship feature is a full AI agent powered by Google's Gemini engine.

Gemini Powers the AI Agent

Samsung CEO Tae Moon Roh kicked off the event by describing a phone that anticipates user needs before they even realize them — one that learns habits, adapts in real time, and acts on the owner's behalf.

The agentic AI capabilities of the Galaxy S26 run on Google's Gemini. The neural network can launch apps in a virtual background window and operate them autonomously while the user handles other tasks.

During the Unpacked event, Google representative Sameer Samat demonstrated the feature in action: in a family group chat discussing a pizza order, Gemini read the conversation, identified each person's preferences, opened DoorDash, assembled the cart, and waited for the user's final confirmation. At launch, the feature also works with GrubHub, Uber, Kroger, Walmart, and several other apps.

Perplexity and Revamped Bixby

Samsung added Perplexity as a second system-level AI agent. It functions as an "answer engine" rather than a conventional chatbot and can be summoned via voice or the side button. Perplexity's Ask AI browser feature simultaneously analyzes all open tabs and browsing history to deliver answers without switching between sources.

The South Korean manufacturer noted that 80% of users currently interact with at least two AI agents daily. Reflecting this trend, Samsung overhauled its proprietary Bixby assistant. It now better understands natural language — for instance, saying "my eyes hurt from the screen" automatically lowers display brightness. The assistant can also pull real-time information directly into conversations without redirecting to other apps.

Additional AI Tools

Beyond the agentic features, Samsung announced several supplementary tools:

• Now Brief — a personalized daily briefing that surfaces restaurant reservations from notification history or flags scheduling conflicts;
• Call Screening — identifies unknown callers and provides a brief summary of the call's purpose before answering;
• Nudge — contextual awareness in messaging: if someone asks about weekend plans, the calendar pops up right in the chat;
• Photo Assist — fills in missing elements in photos using Galaxy AI.

The front camera leverages an AI processor for sharper selfies. Night video has been improved with noise reduction, and the S26 Ultra supports 8K recording with the new APV codec.

Hardware-Level Privacy Display

A standout announcement was a new display privacy technology. The screen incorporates a "black matrix" layer that physically narrows the light dispersion angle from each pixel. The image is only visible when viewed head-on — from any angle, the display appears completely off. The feature can be toggled manually, including on a per-app basis.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the only smartphone on the market with this type of built-in hardware display protection.

Why It Matters

Samsung's shift toward the "phone as agent" concept marks a fundamental change in the mobile industry. Smartphones are evolving from app collections into autonomous digital assistants. The integration of multiple AI engines — Gemini, Perplexity, and an upgraded Bixby — signals that the world's largest Android manufacturer is betting heavily on multi-agent architecture. For both the tech and crypto sectors, this accelerates demand for AI-native applications and services.

Pricing and Availability

Pre-orders for the Galaxy S26 are now open. The base model starts at $899, the Plus version at $1,099, and the flagship S26 Ultra at $1,299.

For reference, Samsung released the Galaxy S25 lineup in January 2025, which also emphasized chip performance and artificial intelligence features.