To avoid being overshadowed by Google's Gemini, Samsung has decided to introduce a "multi-agent" mechanism into Galaxy AI. The upcoming Galaxy S26 series will feature Perplexity, currently the most sought-after AI search engine.Deep entry.
Samsung is scheduled to hold an event in Taiwan at midnight on February 26th.Galaxy Unpacked Launch EventPrior to this, the official announcement revealed a major software upgrade: future Galaxy AI will no longer operate in isolation, but will expand into an open ecosystem supporting multiple AI agents. The first major third-party partner is none other than the AI search engine, hailed as "Google's biggest threat to search."Perplexity.
"Hey Plex" replaces traditional search and is deeply integrated with Samsung's native apps.
According to Samsung's announcement, Perplexity's AI assistant will be directly embedded into the system hierarchy of the Galaxy S26 series. Users can quickly activate Perplexity's AI assistant simply by saying the unique wake word "Hey Plex" or using a physical shortcut.
More importantly, this integration is not just about pre-installing an app. Perplexity will be deeply integrated with Samsung's core applications such as "Samsung Notes," "Clock," "Media," "Reminders," and "Calendar." Samsung has also announced that it will support some third-party apps, but the specific list will be officially announced at the launch event.
In a statement, Won-Joon Choi, President and Head of R&D at Samsung's Mobile Communications Business, pointed out that expanding Galaxy AI is to give users more choices and flexibility when completing tasks: "Galaxy AI will play the role of 'conductor,' bringing together different forms of AI into a single, natural, and cohesive user experience."
Multi-agent ecosystem: the division of labor between Bixby and Perplexity
In fact, Samsung had already begun collaborating with Perplexity last year, initially integrating its AI search engine into [the system/platform].Samsung's Smart TV product lineIn this major foray into the mobile market, the most anticipated aspect is how it will work in conjunction with Samsung's own voice assistant, Bixby, which recently received an "epic upgrade" in the One UI 8.5 beta version.
Based on current information, Samsung seems to be moving towards a "separate functions" approach: the upgraded Bixby is responsible for controlling the phone's underlying settings and executing device tasks, while Perplexity leverages its strengths as a "verification-based AI," focusing on real-time online searches, data integration, and problem-solving.
The "Unexploded Copyright Bomb" Behind Powerful Search Capabilities
While the introduction of Perplexity could significantly enhance the productivity of the Galaxy S26, the startup is currently embroiled in substantial legal and ethical controversies.
Perplexity boasts the ability to instantly scrape information and provide summaries via web crawlers, a technology that has sparked strong protests from numerous content creators and publishers. The company has been accused of unauthorized scraping of copyrighted content and copyright infringement, and in September of last year, it was formally sued by authoritative dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster and Encyclopedia Britannica.
Therefore, while Samsung is bringing Perplexity technology to hundreds of millions of Galaxy users worldwide, it will inevitably have to face the potential copyright risks associated with this technology.
Analysis of viewpoints
Currently, almost all flagship Android phones on the market have entrusted the control of AI to Google's Gemini. Although Samsung has a close relationship with Google, it clearly "doesn't want to put all its eggs in one basket." By positioning Galaxy AI as a "command center," Samsung can not only retain the hardware control advantage of its own Bixby, but also bring in the strongest third-party AI models on the market (such as Perplexity in this case) to complete the puzzle of online knowledge search.
The phrase "Hey Plex" not only signifies a more precise and academically valuable way for users to access information, but also symbolizes a highly ambitious step Samsung has taken in its strategy to avoid being completely held hostage by a single tech giant. Now, we'll see how Samsung demonstrates the seamless switching between these two AI systems at the February 26th launch event.
