Samsung just launched the Galaxy S26 with something the smartphone world hasn't seen before - three separate AI assistants living side-by-side on a single device. The flagship features Google's Gemini, Perplexity, and an upgraded Bixby, giving Android users an early glimpse at what Apple's rumored Google-powered Siri overhaul could actually deliver when it arrives later this year.
Samsung just threw down the gauntlet in the AI assistant wars. The company's newly unveiled Galaxy S26 doesn't just feature one AI - it packs three distinct systems, giving users unprecedented choice in how they interact with their device. It's a bold bet that the future of smartphone AI isn't about picking winners, but about having the right tool for every job.
The S26 marks the first mainstream smartphone to integrate Google's Gemini AI at the system level, sitting alongside Samsung's own revamped Bixby and the AI-powered search engine Perplexity. According to CNBC, this triple-threat approach effectively turns Samsung's latest flagship into a living laboratory for what Apple might deliver when it finally integrates Gemini into Siri.
The timing couldn't be more strategic. Apple has been widely rumored to be negotiating a deal with Google to power Siri with Gemini technology, potentially replacing or augmenting the aging assistant that's long been criticized for lagging behind competitors. Samsung's implementation offers the clearest preview yet of how that partnership could work in practice - and what iPhone users might gain or lose in the transition.
What makes the S26's approach fascinating is how it handles the multi-assistant complexity. Rather than forcing users to choose one default AI, Samsung built a context-aware routing system. Need a quick fact check? Perplexity jumps in. Want to control smart home devices? Bixby handles hardware integration. Complex reasoning tasks or creative work? Gemini takes over. The phone learns user preferences over time, gradually getting better at predicting which assistant to activate.
