Samsung Electronics Co., South Korea’s largest technology company, is taking bold steps to expand the artificial intelligence capabilities of its flagship Galaxy smartphones. The tech giant is in advanced talks with AI leaders such as OpenAI Inc. and Perplexity AI Inc., seeking to integrate more diverse AI services into its upcoming devices — moving beyond its current reliance on Google’s Gemini platform.

Opening the Galaxy to More AI Players

According to Choi Won-Joon, President and Chief Operating Officer of Samsung’s mobile division, the company’s priority is simple: offer users the best AI-driven experiences possible.

“We are talking to multiple vendors. As long as these AI agents are competitive and can provide the best user experiences, we are open to any AI agent out there,” Choi said during an interview at Samsung’s headquarters in Suwon.

Samsung’s next-generation flagship, the Galaxy S26, set for release next year, is expected to include a wider range of AI options, giving consumers more choice and customization than ever before. This follows industry trends where smartphone makers, including archrival Apple Inc., are looking to combine proprietary AI features with best-in-class external technologies.

Bloomberg previously reported that Samsung is nearing a deal to invest in Perplexity AI, with plans to integrate its assistant into Galaxy devices. This move would complement existing AI features powered by Google, allowing the company to diversify its offerings and potentially set a new standard in the Android ecosystem.

Hardware Advances: New Chips for a New Era

Samsung is also exploring significant hardware upgrades for the Galaxy S26. The company is weighing its options between Qualcomm Inc.’s processors and its own Exynos 2600 chips. For the recently launched Galaxy Z Flip 7, Samsung used an Exynos chipset in a foldable phone for the first time — part of its strategy to reduce dependence on Qualcomm and improve confidence in its in-house processors’ efficiency and thermal performance.

Foldable Competition on the Horizon

On the foldable front, Choi welcomed the news that Apple is preparing to enter the market with its first folding iPhone next year. Reports indicate that Apple’s design will be similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series, using foldable OLED displays supplied by Samsung Display.

“This is just the beginning of making these phones go mainstream,” Choi noted, adding that competition from another global player could accelerate adoption and drive innovation in the foldable segment.

Why It Matters

Samsung’s shift toward a multi-AI strategy is a direct response to growing consumer demand for personalization and versatility in mobile devices. By opening its platform to a broader range of AI providers — while simultaneously pushing forward in hardware innovation — the company is positioning itself as a leader in the next phase of the smartphone evolution.

The combination of expanded AI capabilities, next-gen chipsets, and a more competitive foldable market suggests that 2025 could be a defining year for Samsung’s mobile division.