Samsung Galaxy S26 adds Perplexity AI agent with 'Hey Plex' wake word in multi-agent push
18 Sources
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Turns Out Perplexity Might Be the Sleeper Feature on Samsung's Rumored Galaxy S26
Patrick's play The Cowboy is included in the Best American Short Plays 2011-12 anthology. He co-wrote and starred in the short film Baden Krunk that won the Best Wisconsin Short Film award at the Milwaukee Short Film Festival. It's be easy to assume there will be a lot of mentions of AI at today's
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Samsung is adding Perplexity to Galaxy AI
In addition to summoning Bixby or Gemini, Galaxy S26 users will be able to call on Perplexity by saying "hey, Plex." The integration of Perplexity into Galaxy AI is just one element of the company's embrace of a "multi-agent ecosystem." Often, people will use different AI agents for different
[3]
Samsung Adds Support for Perplexity in Galaxy AI, Launches on S26 Series
Samsung will introduce Perplexity as an additional AI agent for Galaxy AI features on the upcoming S26 series. When the integration rolls out, users will be able to summon Perplexity using the activation phrase "Hey Plex" or by holding down the side button. Perplexity's AI agent will work for
[4]
Samsung's S26 gives an advance look at what the Google-powered Apple Siri could do
The S26 is notable for the sheer number of AI systems packed into a single device. Samsung is melding together three separate AI engines: Google's Gemini for agentic tasks like booking rides and acting across apps, Perplexity for web-based queries, and an upgraded version of Samsung's own Bixby as
[5]
Samsung is adding Perplexity to Galaxy AI for its upcoming S26 series
Samsung's next flagship devices will offer Perplexity as part of an expansion to support multiple AI agents in Galaxy AI. Perplexity's AI agent will work with apps including Samsung Notes, Clock, Gallery, Reminder and Calendar, according to the announcement. And, some third-party apps will support
[6]
'Hey Plex' is landing on the Galaxy S26 series as Perplexity joins Galaxy AI
The company has hinted that more Galaxy devices could also get this feature. Samsung just announced that it's doubling down on agentic AI for the Galaxy S26 series with a new Perplexity integration. The company says Perplexity will be introduced as an additional AI agent on the upcoming flagship
[7]
Galaxy S26 will add Perplexity to Samsung's AI lineup
Rajesh started following the latest happenings in the world of Android around the release of the Nexus One and Samsung Galaxy S. After flashing custom ROMs and kernels on his beloved Galaxy S, he started writing about Android for a living. He uses the latest Samsung or Pixel flagship as his daily
[8]
Galaxy S26 will have a 'Hey Plex' Perplexity hotword alongside 'Hey Google' & Bixby
Samsung has confirmed that the upcoming Galaxy S26 series will support a new Perplexity hotword - "Hey Plex" - as part of an "open and inclusive integrated AI ecosystem" that also includes Google and Bixby, which have their own hotwords. "Hey Google" has been around on Android devices for years
[9]
The 7 new AI features coming to the Galaxy S26 -- and the one I'm most excited about
Imagine having to only open one app on your phone ever again. That's the promise of a new Gemini-powered AI tool being launched on the Samsung Galaxy S26, just one of several new AI features coming on Samsung's newest smartphone. From booking your Friday night Uber to auto-filling your grocery cart
[10]
'There's possibility for another partner to join the ecosystem' -- as Perplexity lands on Samsung Galaxy S26 phones a Samsung head is already teasing the next AI addition
Samsung is leaning into its AI phone mantra by adding a third integrated assistant to its new Galaxy S26 lineup, with Perplexity joining Gemini and Bixby as part of its AI OS initiative -- and it sounds like it won't be the last such assistant to join Samsung's AI roster. Launching first on S26
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Samsung finally lets you pick your AI assistant on Galaxy phones
Perplexity joins the family with a dedicated wake word and deep system integration starting this year. Samsung is giving Galaxy owners a real choice in which AI runs their phone. The company will add Perplexity as a second system-level agent on upcoming flagship devices, complete with its own "Hey
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'It feels leaps ahead of the other guys' -- the Samsung Galaxy S26 series wins in the AI department, and we're not the only ones who think so
Samsung unveiled its slew of new devices at Galaxy Unpacked 2026, including the next generation of Galaxy smartphones which we've been itching to get our hands on. Lucky for us, we had early access to the new S26 series, and let's just say we weren't let down. In the most recent episode of the
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Hey Plex: Samsung and Perplexity partner for Galaxy AI
Samsung announced the integration of Perplexity as an AI agent into Galaxy AI for its upcoming S26 flagship series. This expansion introduces support for multiple AI agents within the Galaxy ecosystem. The Perplexity agent will operate within specific Samsung applications and select third-party
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Samsung's Galaxy S26 is getting a third wake phrase, and it's not for Bixby - Phandroid
Samsung Galaxy phones already let you say "Hey Google" or "Hey Bixby" to pull up a voice assistant. That's been the setup for years. With the Galaxy S26, "Hey Plex" is joining the mix, and it's for an entirely different AI altogether. Samsung officially confirmed that Galaxy S26 Hey Plex support
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Samsung Galaxy S26 Series Will Let You Say 'Hey Plex' to Invoke Perplexity
Samsung previously confirmed that Bixby would be powered by Perplexity AI Samsung on Monday announced that the upcoming Galaxy S26 series of smartphones, which is expected to comprise the standard Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26+, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra, will offer support for another AI agent. An
[16]
Samsung Galaxy S26 series to get Perplexity AI with 'Hey Plex' support
Samsung is enhancing its Galaxy AI strategy by adding Perplexity as a new AI agent. This move allows users to access Perplexity using "Hey, Plex" on upcoming devices like the Galaxy S26 series. Samsung aims to create a multi-agent ecosystem where users can choose the best AI for specific
[17]
Samsung expands Galaxy AI with multi-agent ecosystem, adds Perplexity support
Samsung Electronics has announced the continued expansion of Galaxy AI, outlining plans to support a broader, open and integrated multi-agent ecosystem. The company said Galaxy AI is designed to reduce effort across everyday tasks and enable more natural interactions, while offering users greater
[18]
Agents vs. Agentic AI: The new smartphone spec you should care about
The launch of the Samsung Galaxy S26 series marks a definitive shift in the mobile landscape, moving us past the era of simple generative tools and into the age of the "Action-Oriented" smartphone. While we spent 2024 and 2025 marveling at AI that could summarize a long email or remove a stranger
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Samsung is integrating Perplexity into its Galaxy AI ecosystem for the upcoming Galaxy S26 series, allowing users to summon the AI agent using 'Hey Plex' voice commands. The partnership marks a strategic shift toward a multi-agent ecosystem where users can choose between Perplexity, Google Gemini, and Samsung's Bixby assistant. With deep system access to native apps and third-party applications, this integration positions Samsung as a key distribution channel in the competitive AI smartphone market.
Samsung Introduces Perplexity AI Integration for Galaxy S26
Samsung is bringing Perplexity into its Galaxy AI ecosystem with the upcoming Galaxy S26 series, marking a significant expansion in how users interact with AI agents on their smartphones. The integration, announced ahead of the Unpacked event scheduled for Feb. 25, allows users to summon Perplexity using the wake word 'Hey Plex' or by holding down the side button
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. This partnership places Perplexity alongside Google Gemini and Samsung's revamped Bixby assistant, creating what the company calls a multi-agent ecosystem that prioritizes user choice.Deep Integration Across Native Apps and Third-Party Applications
The Perplexity AI integration extends beyond simple voice commands. Perplexity's Sonar API powers aspects of Galaxy AI, with engineers working closely with Samsung's team to achieve deep system access at the framework level
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. The AI agent will work with native apps including Samsung Notes, Clock, Gallery, Reminder, and Calendar, as well as select third-party applications2
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. Dmitry Shevelenko, Perplexity's chief business officer, emphasized that this represents the first time a third-party AI company has achieved parity on a major mobile OS1
. Samsung's Internet browser will also include agentic browsing using Perplexity's Comet technology, allowing for lighter, faster interactions without navigating through multiple screens.Multi-Agent Ecosystem Reflects Shifting User Preferences
Samsung's decision to embrace multiple AI agents stems from evolving user behavior in the smartphone market. According to the company, eight out of 10 users prefer more than two AI agents on their phone
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. This approach allows users to leverage different AI agents for different tasks based on their strengths. The Samsung Galaxy S26 now houses three separate AI engines: Google Gemini for agentic tasks like booking rides and acting across apps, Perplexity for web-based queries, and an upgraded Bixby assistant powered by a more capable in-house large language model4
. Won-Joon Choi, President and COO of Samsung's Mobile eXperience Business, stated that Galaxy AI acts as an orchestrator, bringing together different forms of AI into a single, natural, cohesive experience5
.Related Stories
Strategic Implications for the AI Ecosystem
The partnership positions Samsung as the most important distribution channel for consumer AI, particularly for Google's Gemini, which has been integrated since the Galaxy S24 launched in January 2024
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. With the S26, Gemini can now take autonomous action inside third-party applications, not just Samsung's own apps. Shevelenko described Samsung's move as a strategic differentiator, noting that 'the first step toward an agentic mobile ecosystem is the user getting to choose whatever agent they want'1
. This multi-agent approach contrasts with competitors like Apple, whose Siri integration with Google Gemini and ChatGPT remains more limited. While Perplexity has previously partnered with phone makers like Motorola and Deutsche Telekom, being integrated by the world's biggest phone maker represents a substantial leap forward1
.What to Watch as the AI Arms Race Intensifies
As Samsung prepares to unveil more details at its Unpacked event, the integration raises questions about how users will navigate multiple voice commands—'Hey Google' for Gemini, 'Hey Plex' for Perplexity, and traditional Bixby activation. The company is betting that this flexibility will attract users who have developed strong attachments to particular AI platforms. However, the partnership also comes as Perplexity faces scrutiny over alleged content scraping and copyright infringement, including a lawsuit filed by Merriam-Webster and Encyclopedia Britannica
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. Despite these challenges, Shevelenko confirmed that Perplexity remains laser-focused on working with OEMs rather than developing its own hardware, contrasting with OpenAI's partnership with former Apple designer Jony Ive1
. The success of this multi-agent strategy could influence how other manufacturers approach AI integration, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape where user choice becomes as important as the underlying technology itself.References
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