Samsung's Galaxy S26 Billed as First 'Agentic AI Phone'—Here's What That Means
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S26 series, introducing the first “agentic AI phone,” which uses AI to proactively perform tasks on users' behalf rather than just responding to commands. Powered by Google’s Gemini AI, the Galaxy S26 can operate apps in the background—such as reading group messages, compiling orders in DoorDash, and stopping short of confirming purchases without user approval. These functions are launching in the US and South Korea in limited preview, and further app integration is planned. The phone also includes Perplexity as a second AI agent accessible via shortcut and updates Samsung’s Bixby with improved contextual understanding. Other AI-based features include automated daily planning (“Now Brief”), advanced call screening, in-chat calendar suggestions, and enhanced photography via AI-powered editing and camera improvements. A notable hardware addition is a privacy display that restricts screen visibility from side angles and can be toggled per app. The Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at $1,299, with pre-orders open and shipping beginning March 11; the base S26 starts at $899 and the S26 Plus at $1,099.
