Samsung's summer Unpacked event has once again set the stage for a new era of mobile computing, this time with artificial intelligence taking center stage. The company unveiled its latest Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8, and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, alongside the Galaxy Watch 9 and a highly anticipated pair of smart glasses. While the hardware upgrades are impressive, the true star of the show is the deep integration of Google's Gemini AI across the entire ecosystem. Unlike previous iterations where AI features felt like add-ons, Samsung and Google have worked together to weave Gemini into the very fabric of these devices, enabling automation, research, and cross-device collaboration that feels seamless and intuitive.
1. Task automation with Gemini Intelligence
The most significant leap forward is the introduction of Gemini Intelligence, a system-level AI agent that can complete complex digital tasks on behalf of the user. According to a blog post by Google, Gemini Intelligence is capable of handling multi-step actions such as purchasing concert tickets, ordering dinner from a preferred restaurant, or booking an entire travel itinerary. This is made possible by compatibility with over 40 apps, though the exact list of supported applications and the rollout timeline remain unclear. Samsung has confirmed that users can summon Gemini Intelligence natively on the Galaxy Z Flip 8 by hard-pressing the power button—a dedicated hardware shortcut that transforms the Flex Window into an AI command center.
During a demonstration, Google showed how Gemini Intelligence can find a product, add it to a cart, and then pause at the final checkout step, requiring human confirmation before completing the purchase. This deliberate design choice addresses one of the biggest concerns surrounding AI automation: loss of user control. By keeping a human in the loop for sensitive actions like financial transactions, Samsung and Google aim to build trust while still delivering convenience. The feature is reminiscent of what Apple announced at its Worldwide Developers Conference last month, where Siri will soon execute cross-app tasks by accessing sensitive data across Messages, Photos, and Calendar. However, Apple operates in a closed ecosystem that naturally allows such deep integration. For Samsung, which relies on a more open Android environment, it is unclear whether Gemini will request—or be granted—the same level of access to Galaxy users' personal information. Privacy advocates will be watching closely as more details emerge.
2. Gemini Notebook integration
Another major integration point is the pre-installation of Gemini Notebook, a research and note-taking assistant that was recently rebranded from NotebookLM. On the new Galaxy Z Flip 8, Galaxy Z Fold 8, and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Gemini Notebook comes ready to use out of the box. Samsung and Google have optimized the experience for the unique form factors of foldable phones. On the Galaxy Z Fold series, the large inner display allows users to keep source documents open on one side while taking notes on the other. Dragging and dropping links, photos, PDFs, and other documents becomes a fluid, almost desktop-like experience. This is particularly useful for students, researchers, and professionals who need to synthesize information from multiple sources while on the go.
Gemini Notebook goes beyond simple note-taking. It can generate summaries, create study guides, and even answer questions based on uploaded content. For example, a user attending a conference could quickly snap photos of presentation slides, drop them into Gemini Notebook, and receive a concise bullet-point summary in seconds. The app leverages the same underlying AI models that power Google's advanced research assistants, but packaged in a mobile-friendly interface. Samsung's decision to make it a pre-installed app—rather than an optional download—signals that the company sees AI not as a gimmick but as a core productivity tool. This could give Samsung a competitive edge, especially against Apple's Notes and Reminders ecosystem, which currently lacks a comparable AI research companion.
3. Smart glasses and Galaxy Watch work together
The third pillar of Samsung's Gemini integration is the synergy between its upcoming smart glasses and the Galaxy Watch 9. At Unpacked, Samsung gave a sneak peek at its new smart glasses, developed in collaboration with Google and Qualcomm. These glasses are designed to be display-free, relying instead on built-in cameras, speakers, and microphones to interact with the user and the environment. Google had previously teased the Android XR platform at its I/O developer conference in May, and these glasses are the first major consumer product to leverage it.
According to Samsung, the glasses will support native Gemini AI and integrate seamlessly with compatible smartwatches. For instance, a user could be listening to music through the glasses and then take a call on the Galaxy Watch, with the audio smoothly switching between devices. More advanced use cases include real-time translation: the glasses could capture spoken words in a foreign language, and the watch could display a translation on its screen. This kind of ambient computing, where multiple devices work in concert without explicit user intervention, is exactly what AI should enable. Google's blog post emphasized that the glasses will be able to surface timely information—like notifications, directions, or reminders—directly through audio cues, without blocking the user's field of view.
The partnership with Qualcomm ensures that these glasses have dedicated processing for AI tasks, reducing reliance on cloud connectivity and improving responsiveness. While Samsung has not announced a specific release date, the fact that the glasses were shown alongside the Galaxy Watch 9 suggests a synchronized launch later this year. This move positions Samsung to compete directly with Meta's Ray-Ban Stories and Apple's rumored smart glasses, but with a stronger emphasis on cross-device intelligence powered by Gemini.
Behind these three pillars is a broader strategic bet on Google's AI. Over the past year, Samsung has steadily migrated its own Bixby assistant toward a more Google-centric framework. The deep integration of Gemini across the Galaxy ecosystem represents a formal acknowledgment that the future of mobile AI lies not in proprietary assistants but in collaborative, open partnerships. For consumers, this means that the next Galaxy device they buy will be less about the hardware specifications and more about how intelligently it can anticipate their needs. From automating mundane tasks to assisting with complex research and enabling seamless device orchestration, Samsung's new devices aim to make AI an invisible but indispensable part of daily life.
Source:ZDNET News