The news: Perplexity AI is in talks to power search on Samsung’s Galaxy S26 phones in 2026, signaling a major push into mobile and a challenge to Google’s search dominance on devices.

Perplexity’s latest foray into mobile follows its recent deal with Motorola, which indicates it’s pursuing strategic deals to place AI search in front of millions of users. 

Other Samsung-Perplexity developments:

• The two companies are also discussing a partnership to build AI-powered OS and AI app development platforms. 
• Samsung could invest in Perplexity’s next funding round as it targets a $14 billion valuation, per Gadgets 360.

Disrupting mobile search: Samsung still defaults to Google Search despite a 2023 rumor of a switch to Microsoft’s Bing, but it might have finally found an ideal search partner in Perplexity—the startup is aggressively competing with Google Search in web and mobile.

• Samsung’s integration of Perplexity’s AI search gives it an advantage as Google struggles to differentiate its AI-powered search and Apple falls behind in delivering advanced iPhone AI features.
• Shipping new smartphones with AI search features from a known provider could drive upgrade cycles for users interested in getting on-device AI without the attached subscription cost. 

Our take: If the deal closes, Samsung could shake up the mobile search market, weakening Google’s grip and potentially leapfrogging Apple in on-device AI.

For Perplexity, the partnership could lead to others as it cements its position as a serious search challenger—accelerating its reach from web to mobile at massive scale.

Search behavior on mobile may be about to change. Brands and content creators will need to intensify their SEO and content strategies around AI-native platforms.