Samsung is getting ready for a major AI jump. The company wants to pack Google’s Gemini into about 800 million mobile devices in 2026, roughly double what it has today.​
What Samsung is planning
Samsung’s co-CEO T M Roh said the firm will push AI into almost every product it sells, starting with phones and tablets.​
- Around 400 million Samsung mobiles already shipped with Gemini-based AI tools like Galaxy AI last year.​
- The goal is to reach about 800 million Gemini-powered mobile devices in 2026.​
- Samsung wants AI features across phones, foldables, tablets, TVs, and home appliances.​
Roh said the company’s strategy is to apply AI to “all products, all functions, and all services” as fast as it can, under an internal “AI transformation” drive.​
Why 800 million AI devices matters
This plan is not just a numbers game. It is a fight for the next big thing in phones.
- Apple took the top spot in global smartphone shipments last year, and Samsung wants that crown back.​
- Chinese brands like Huawei and others are moving fast with their own AI phones, putting pressure on Samsung in many markets.​
- By loading Gemini into so many Galaxy devices, Samsung also gives Google a strong edge against OpenAI and rival AI platforms.​
Market research firms such as Counterpoint and IDC have warned that unit growth in smartphones may stay weak, so brands are turning to AI features to justify prices and keep users inside their ecosystems.​
What Galaxy AI actually does
Samsung is not only talking about AI; it already has some tools in people’s hands.​
- Galaxy AI includes translation, voice and text help, image tools, and search and summarization built on Gemini.​
- Many of these features run in a hybrid way, with some processing on-device and some in the cloud.​
- Samsung says awareness of its Galaxy AI branding jumped from about 30% to around 80% in a year, showing customers are starting to notice these tools.​
Roh expects AI adoption to speed up in the next 6–12 months as these features become normal in mid-range phones, not just flagships.​
Impact on Google, chips and prices
Samsung’s move also has knock-on effects across the tech stack.
- As the biggest Android hardware partner, Samsung’s deep Gemini rollout helps Google bring its latest models to hundreds of millions of users quickly.​
- Google has been pushing newer Gemini versions to compete with OpenAI, and Samsung’s devices have become a primary showcase.​
- Roh hinted that higher memory chip prices could make some Samsung products more expensive, even as the firm works with partners to soften the impact.​
Analysts note Samsung’s stock got a boost after the AI device expansion comments, as investors see the plan as a clear growth story in an otherwise slow handset market.​
What this means for users and rivals
For everyday phone buyers, most of this change will show up as more smart help inside common apps.​
- Users can expect better live translation, content creation, camera enhancements, and context-aware search on Galaxy devices.​
- Foldables and premium phones are likely to get the newest AI tricks first, and then they will filter down to mid-range models.​
- Apple is expected to answer with deeper on-device intelligence in iPhones, while Chinese brands push aggressive AI features at lower price points.​
If Samsung hits its 800 million target, AI will move from a buzzword to a default part of how Galaxy devices work, from phones to living-room screens.
