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Samsung users might have Watch Vagabond OnlinePerplexity-powered features on future devices.

According to a report from Bloomberg, Samsung is "nearing a wide-ranging deal" to bring Perplexity search capabilities to the upcoming Galaxy S26 series. That could include the Perplexity app pre-loaded on Samsung devices, Perplexity search features within Samsung's web browser, and possibly integrating Perplexity with Samsung's Bixby virtual assistant.

Samsung is also reportedly a major investor in Perplexity's latest funding round, which seeks to raise $500 million at a $14 billion valuation, said the outlet.

Samsung was early to bring AI features to its devices, claiming the Galaxy S24 series was the "first AI phone." The company's Galaxy AI has largely relied on Google Gemini for AI-powered features that can do things like connect with Samsung's and third party apps and perform tasks on the user's behalf, and tap into Google Search through Gemini Live. A deal with Perplexity would diversify Samsung's offerings and curtail its dependence on Google.

Similarly, Apple, is looking at Perplexity for AI search in Safari. That's according to Eddy Cue, Apple's senior VP of services, in his recent testimony during the Google antitrust trial. Apple previously struck a $20 billion deal with Google to make their search engine the default for Safari. Apple also has a deal with OpenAI for its Apple Intelligence AI, features and has expressed interest in partnering with other AI companies to give users their choice of AI models on devices.

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Google has had a decades-long grip on the search engine market. But the rise of AI-powered search engines from startups like Perplexity and users' increasing shift to chatbots like ChatGPT for search is chipping away at Google's dominance. Then there's the fact that Google might be forced to divest its Chrome browser as part of the remedial phase of the antitrust case, which ruled Google a monopoly.

It's unclear if Samsung's rumored partnership with Perplexity is a protective measure against this still-undetermined outcome. But Samsung's reported investment in Perplexity is certainly an indication that there are other serious contenders out there poised to compete with Google. And that's all thanks to generative AI.

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