Samsung's summer Unpacked event has once again placed artificial intelligence at the center of its hardware strategy, this time with a deeper and more native integration of Google's Gemini AI across its new lineup. The Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Watch 9, and the newly teased smart glasses all come equipped with Gemini-powered features that go beyond simple voice commands. These devices aim to automate everyday tasks, enhance research workflows, and create a seamless interconnected ecosystem. While the hardware upgrades are notable, it is the software intelligence that truly defines this generation of Samsung products.
The partnership between Samsung and Google is not new, but the level of Gemini integration seen at Unpacked represents a significant evolution. Previously, Samsung relied on its own Bixby assistant and limited cloud AI features. Now, with Gemini Intelligence, the company is leveraging Google's large language models and contextual understanding to offer cross-app automation, real-time research assistance, and even collaborative functionalities between wearables and smart glasses. This move aligns with the broader industry trend where major smartphone manufacturers are embedding generative AI directly into the operating system, reducing latency and improving user experience.
One of the most compelling aspects of this integration is how it changes the way users interact with their devices. Instead of toggling between multiple apps to complete a single task, users can now issue a single command that triggers a sequence of actions across different applications. For example, ordering dinner or buying concert tickets can be handled in one smooth process. The following sections detail three key areas where Samsung has deeply woven Gemini into its new Galaxy devices.
1. Task Automation
The flagship feature of Gemini Intelligence on these new devices is its ability to automate complex multi-step tasks. According to information shared by Google during the event, Gemini Intelligence can help users purchase concert tickets, order dinner from their favorite restaurant, or book a complete travel experience—all by interpreting natural language requests and then executing actions across multiple apps. This is made possible because Gemini can understand the user's intent and then break it down into smaller sub-tasks, each handled by a different app. For instance, asking Gemini to "book a weekend trip to New York" might involve opening a flight booking app, a hotel reservation service, and a restaurant reservation platform—all working in concert.
Samsung has made accessing these capabilities effortless. On the Galaxy Z Flip 8, users can summon Gemini Intelligence directly from the Flex Window by hard-pressing the power button. This shortcut eliminates the need to unlock the phone or navigate through menus, making AI assistance instantly available. Google has emphasized that users retain full control over the automation process. They can view the AI's progress step by step, pause an upcoming action if they need to adjust details, and confirm actions before they are completed. This human-in-the-loop approach is designed to build trust and prevent unintended purchases or actions.
The automation feature is expected to work with over 40 popular apps at launch, though the exact list and availability timeline have not been disclosed. This ambiguity leaves some questions open, especially regarding app compatibility across different regions. However, the demo presented during Unpacked showed a clear workflow: when asked to find a specific product and place an order, Gemini Intelligence would search, present options, and then require a final human confirmation before completing the purchase. This ensures the user remains the final decision-maker.
Interestingly, this level of cross-app automation is not entirely new to the smartphone industry. At its Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this year, Apple announced that Siri would soon gain similar capabilities, allowing it to execute actions across apps connected to the user's iCloud account. However, Apple's closed ecosystem gives Siri access to a wealth of sensitive personal data—messages, photos, calendar events—from all devices signed into the same Apple ID. Samsung's approach, by contrast, relies on Google's infrastructure, raising questions about data privacy and hardware permissions. It remains unclear whether Samsung will grant Gemini the same level of access to a user's device data, such as text messages, contacts, or photos. Google has stated that Gemini's actions are opt-in and that users can revoke permissions at any time, but the fine print of how data is handled across Samsung's and Google's servers is yet to be fully detailed.
2. Gemini Notebook Integration
Another major area of integration comes through Gemini Notebook, which was recently rebranded from NotebookLM, Google's research assistant. Samsung has announced that Gemini Notebook will come preinstalled on the Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8, and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. This native placement means users do not need to download the app separately; it is ready to use out of the box. The foldable form factor of these devices is particularly well-suited to the research assistant's capabilities. The larger displays of the Z Fold series, in particular, allow for a true side-by-side multitasking experience. Users can drag and drop links, photos, documents, and other sources directly into Gemini Notebook, making it easy to compile research for school projects, work reports, or personal interests.
Gemini Notebook functions as a personal AI research assistant that can summarize long documents, answer questions based on uploaded material, and even generate study guides or outlines. By integrating it directly into the operating system, Samsung and Google are blurring the line between a standalone app and a system feature. The drag-and-drop functionality is especially powerful on foldables, where one half of the screen can hold the source material while the other half contains the notebook interface. This eliminates the need to switch between windows or rely on clipboard copying.
The preinstallation of Gemini Notebook signals a strategic push by Google to increase adoption of its productivity tools beyond the Pixel lineup. For Samsung users, this means immediate access to advanced AI research capabilities without any setup. The integration also hints at future possibilities where the notebook could interact with other apps, such as automatically pulling relevant content from email or cloud storage, though such features have not yet been announced. Industry analysts view this move as a direct challenge to Apple's Notes and File apps, which have begun integrating AI features in iOS 19.
During Unpacked, Samsung demonstrated how a user could research vacation destinations by dropping links and photos into Gemini Notebook, which then created a comprehensive summary of options including costs, weather, and local attractions. The notebook also allows for voice input, further streamlining the research process on the go.
3. Glasses and Galaxy Watch Synergy
The third area of deep Gemini integration involves Samsung's upcoming smart glasses, developed in collaboration with Google and Qualcomm. These glasses, teased at Unpacked, are part of the Android XR platform that Google first introduced during its I/O developer conference in May. Unlike many existing smart glasses that rely on augmented reality displays, Samsung's design is display-free. Instead, the glasses are equipped with a camera, speakers, and microphones, allowing them to rely entirely on voice and audio interaction while being powered by Gemini AI.
According to Samsung and Google, the glasses will work natively with compatible smartwatches, including the newly announced Galaxy Watch 9. This creates a powerful combination where the watch can serve as a controller or secondary display, while the glasses handle voice commands and visual inputs through the camera. For example, a user could ask the glasses to identify a landmark or translate a sign, and the information could be displayed or spoken through the watch. The integration is designed to be seamless, with Gemini acting as the common intelligence layer between the two devices.
This synergy represents a new paradigm in wearable computing. Instead of wearing multiple standalone gadgets, users will have an ecosystem where the watch and glasses complement each other. The Galaxy Watch 9 itself includes upgraded sensors and processing power to handle AI tasks locally, reducing reliance on cloud connections. When combined with the glasses, users can engage in hands-free navigation, receive contextual notifications, and even get real-time health insights without looking at a screen. The glasses also support Gemini Intelligence for tasks like setting reminders, sending messages, or controlling smart home devices—all through natural speech.
Privacy is a significant consideration for a camera-equipped wearable. Samsung has emphasized that the glasses will include a clear indicator when the camera is active, and that AI processing will happen on-device as much as possible. However, the full privacy policy regarding data collection and sharing with Google's servers has not been released. Given the sensitivity of always-on microphones and cameras, this will be a critical factor in consumer adoption.
The glasses-watch synergy is not just about convenience; it also showcases the potential of a truly intelligent wearable ecosystem. As technology evolves, such integrations could lead to new use cases in navigation, productivity, and health monitoring. For instance, a runner could ask the glasses for directions while the watch monitors heart rate and provides audio feedback. The AI could adjust music based on pace or weather conditions. These possibilities are still in early stages, but the foundation laid by Samsung and Google is promising.
Beyond these three main features, Samsung has also hinted at other Gemini-enabled capabilities such as real-time translation during calls (building on the Galaxy AI features from previous models), AI-generated wallpapers and themes, and smart scheduling that learns user habits. All these contribute to a cohesive ecosystem where Gemini acts as the central intelligence linking devices, apps, and services.
As the competition in the AI smartphone space intensifies, Samsung's deep Gemini integration positions it as a leader in practical, everyday AI. By embedding AI into hardware interaction points—like the Galaxy Z Flip's cover screen button, the foldable's multitasking interface, and the wearable combo—Samsung is making AI less of a novelty and more of a utility. The coming months will reveal whether these features live up to the promise, especially in terms of reliability, battery life, and data privacy. For now, Samsung's Unpacked 2026 has set a new benchmark for how deeply AI can be woven into a mobile ecosystem."
Source:ZDNET News