Samsung's Secret AI Weapon? Major Deal with Google Rival Could Shake Up Mobile Search
Samsung Electronics Co. (SSNLF) is reportedly finalizing a multifaceted deal with Perplexity AI that could reshape its AI and search strategy across future mobile devices. According to people familiar with the talks, the partnership could include preloading Perplexity's search assistant on upcoming Galaxy phones and embedding its features into Samsung's browser and Bixby voice assistant. The integration may debut with the Galaxy S26 lineup in early 2026, signaling a major move to diversify beyond Alphabet's Google ecosystem.
Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Signs with SSNLF.
Alongside product integration, Samsung is also expected to become a major backer in Perplexity's upcoming $500 million funding round, which could value the AI startup at $14 billion. For Perplexity, the potential deal would be its largest mobile deployment yet, building on its earlier integration with Motorola and possibly elevating its position in the AI search space. Discussions between the two companies reportedly advanced following recent in-person meetings in South Korea.
The partnership could also lay the foundation for more ambitious AI initiatives, including a new operating system and a unified AI agents app, combining tools from multiple assistants. Meanwhile, Apple has also expressed interest in Perplexity as a possible alternative to Google Search and ChatGPT for Siri. How Perplexity balances interest from both Samsung and Apple remains to be seen, but the emerging AI player is rapidly becoming a key asset in the competitive race to redefine search and personal assistants on mobile.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
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