In the ever-escalating arms race of mobile artificial intelligence, Samsung has just dropped a tactical nuke.
While the tech world spent 2024 and 2025 debating whether Google’s Gemini or Apple’s Intelligence would reign supreme, Samsung was quietly architecting a different future: one where you aren’t forced to choose a single “brain” for your phone. On February 23, 2026, ahead of the highly anticipated Galaxy S26 Unpacked event, Samsung officially confirmed that Perplexity AI is joining the family as a deep, system-level AI agent.
The wake phrase? “Hey Plex.”
This isn’t just another app shortcut. It is a fundamental shift in how Galaxy devices operate. If you’ve ever felt like your phone’s assistant was just a glorified timer-setter, the integration of Perplexity—the world’s most powerful conversational search engine—changes the game.
Here is everything you need to know about the “Hey Plex” era.
1. Beyond the App: What “System-Level” Actually Means
In the past, using Perplexity on a phone meant opening an app, typing a query, and manually copying the results. Samsung has demolished those walls.
By integrating Perplexity at the OS-framework level, Samsung is giving the AI “eyes and ears” across your entire device. Perplexity now sits alongside Bixby and Gemini as a first-class citizen in the Galaxy ecosystem.
How you summon it:
- Voice Activation: Just say “Hey Plex” from any screen—even when the display is off.
- The Side Button: Galaxy S26 users can now map the long-press of the power button specifically to Perplexity, replacing the default Gemini or Bixby toggle.
- Contextual Overlays: A simple swipe or gesture can bring up a “Plex” window that reads what’s currently on your screen to provide real-time research.
2. The Power of the “Orchestrator” Strategy
The most fascinating part of this announcement isn’t just the “Hey Plex” command; it’s Samsung’s new role as an AI Orchestrator.
Samsung’s research found that nearly 80% of users now rely on more than two different AI agents for their daily tasks. We use ChatGPT for creative writing, Gemini for Google Workspace integration, and Perplexity for factual, cited research.
Instead of fighting this trend, Samsung is leaning into it. With One UI 8.5, Galaxy AI acts as a traffic controller.
- Bixby remains the king of device control (e.g., “Hey Bixby, turn on Eye Comfort Shield and set a timer for 10 minutes”).
- Perplexity becomes the primary engine for external knowledge and complex reasoning.
- Gemini continues to handle deep integration with your Gmail, Docs, and Google Maps.
3. Deep Integration: The “Plex” Ripple Effect
Because Perplexity is now a system agent, it can “talk” to your native Samsung apps. This is where the magic happens. Imagine the following workflows:
Samsung Notes & Gallery
You’re looking at a photo in your Gallery of a strange plant you saw on vacation. You trigger “Hey Plex” and ask, “What is this, and can I grow it in my climate?” Perplexity doesn’t just identify the plant; it can pull your current location data, research soil types, and automatically save a summary of the care instructions directly into Samsung Notes.
Calendar & Reminders
You receive a complex email about a project deadline. You invoke Perplexity and say, “Plex, look at this email. Break it down into five actionable steps and put them in my Reminders, then find an open 2-hour slot in my Calendar tomorrow for ‘Deep Work’.” ### The Bixby Evolution Interestingly, Samsung is also using Perplexity’s engine to supercharge Bixby. In the latest One UI 8.5 beta, Bixby’s web search results are now “Powered by Perplexity,” giving you cited, footnote-heavy answers instead of a list of blue links.
4. The Perplexity Pro Perk: A $200 Value
Samsung isn’t just giving you the software; they’re giving you the “Premium” experience. To celebrate the launch, Samsung and Perplexity have confirmed a massive promotion:
New and existing Galaxy S26 owners (and even some older flagship users) can claim 1 year of Perplexity Pro for free.
For the uninitiated, Perplexity Pro is a $200/year value. It grants you:
- Model Switching: Choose between GPT-5.2, Gemini 3.1 Pro, or Claude 4 (depending on the latest releases).
- Unlimited File Uploads: Analyze massive PDFs or spreadsheets on your phone.
- Advanced Image Generation: Use Perplexity’s internal tools to create visuals based on your research.
In the US, users can claim this by simply downloading the Perplexity app via the Galaxy Store. In India, a similar partnership has been launched via Airtel Thanks.
5. Privacy and the “Zero-Peeking” Era
With great AI power comes great privacy anxiety. Samsung is tackling this with two major features debuting on the S26 series:
- On-Device Processing: Simple Perplexity queries and “Plex” device actions are handled locally via the S26’s upgraded NPU (Neural Processing Unit), ensuring your data never leaves the phone.
- Zero-Peeking Privacy: A new system-level display filter that prevents people sitting next to you on a bus from seeing your AI-generated summaries or private notes.
6. Why This Matters for the Future of Smartphones
For years, the “Assistant” was a walled garden. Apple wanted you in Siri’s world; Google wanted you in Assistant’s. By inviting Perplexity into the core of the OS, Samsung is declaring that the Open Ecosystem is the winning strategy.
Samsung President Won-Joon Choi put it best: “Galaxy AI acts as an orchestrator, bringing together different forms of AI into a single, natural, cohesive experience.”
By saying “Hey Plex,” you aren’t just opening a search engine; you’re engaging a research assistant that has full permission to help you manage your digital life.
Conclusion: The Verdict
Is “Hey Plex” a gimmick? Far from it. In a world where we are drowning in information, a system-level agent that can synthesize data from your Gallery, Notes, and the live Web—all in one go—is the first “Pro” feature that actually feels like the future.
If you’re a power user, a student, or a professional who lives on their phone, the S26’s Perplexity integration might just be the reason to finally upgrade.
What do you think? Is “Hey Plex” enough to make you switch to Galaxy, or are you sticking with Gemini or Siri? Let us know in the comments!