Partnership

Samsung Opens Galaxy S26 to Perplexity AI with “Hey Plex” Command

co-written by newsrooms.ai23. February 2026, 08:14

Samsung has announced the integration of the AI assistant Perplexity into the upcoming Galaxy S26 smartphone line. The integration is part of a broader strategy that opens Galaxy AI to multiple AI agents and offers users more choices when interacting with their devices. The South Korean company is thus positioning itself in an increasingly competitive market where various tech companies are vying for dominance in mobile AI assistants.

Users can invoke Perplexity on the new devices with the activation phrase “Hey Plex” or activate it via physical quick-access buttons. The AI agent gains access to core Samsung applications such as Notes, Clock, Gallery, Reminder, and Calendar. Furthermore, the manufacturer plans to support select third-party apps, though it has not named specific ones. In addition to Perplexity, S26 users will also have access to Samsung’s revamped Bixby assistant as well as Google’s Gemini.

Strategic Shift Toward a Multi-Agent Ecosystem

With the integration of various AI assistants, Samsung is pursuing a fundamentally new approach. The company is opening its operating system to the integration of different agents, as users often prefer different AI systems for different tasks—depending on their respective strengths. Won-Joon Choi, President and COO of Samsung’s Mobile eXperience Business, explained that Galaxy AI functions as an orchestrator that brings together different forms of AI in a single, natural, and coherent experience.

The strategy aims to differentiate Samsung from competitors such as Apple and Google. While these companies primarily rely on their own assistants, Samsung is betting on choice. The manufacturer believes that people are increasingly developing emotional attachments to specific AI agents and can gain a competitive advantage by offering the flexibility to place the preferred assistant at the center of the smartphone.

Existing Partnership and Legal Controversies

Samsung and Perplexity have been working together since last year, when the manufacturer integrated the AI search engine into its smart TVs. However, Perplexity has faced criticism for months over alleged copyright infringement. The company has been accused of illegal content scraping and unauthorized use of protected materials. In September 2025, even Merriam-Webster and Encyclopedia Britannica filed lawsuits against Perplexity—a notable case in which a dictionary publisher is taking action against an AI company.

Further details on the Perplexity integration and Samsung’s vision of a multi-agent ecosystem are expected to be revealed at the Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25. The event is imminent and is expected to provide comprehensive insights into the company’s AI strategy as well as the technical specifications of the S26 series.