In a major strategic push to dominate the artificial intelligence (AI) landscape, Samsung Electronics has announced plans to massively expand the reach of its Galaxy AI features. The South Korean tech giant intends to double the number of its mobile devices equipped with AI, targeting a staggering 800 million units by the end of 2026.
Ambitious Expansion in the Global AI Race
This bold move is designed to give Samsung a critical advantage as competition in the consumer AI sector intensifies globally. Last year, the company integrated AI features, largely powered by Google's Gemini technology, into approximately 400 million smartphones and tablets. The plan to reach 800 million units represents a dramatic scaling of its AI ambition.
In his first interview since becoming co-CEO in November, T M Roh outlined the company's all-encompassing vision for AI. "We will apply AI to all products, all functions, and all services as quickly as possible," Roh told Reuters. This strategy is central to Samsung's efforts to reclaim the top spot in the smartphone market from Apple and to fend off fierce competition from Chinese manufacturers across its product lines, including televisions and home appliances.
Boosting Google and Intensifying Rivalries
Samsung's plan is a significant boost for Google, the world's largest backer of the Android mobile platform. The expansion will drive more consumer users to Google's Gemini AI model, which is locked in a tight contest with rivals like OpenAI. Google launched the advanced Gemini 3 model in November, showcasing its lead on several industry performance benchmarks.
The announcement has sent ripples through the AI industry. Reports indicate that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman issued an internal "code red" in response to Gemini 3, pausing non-core projects to accelerate development. This led to OpenAI launching its GPT-5.2 AI model just a few weeks later, highlighting the frantic pace of innovation.
Integrated AI to Challenge Apple's Dominance
Despite Apple being set as the top smartphone maker last year according to Counterpoint Research, Samsung is betting on AI to change the game. The company aims to offer integrated AI services across its consumer electronics portfolio to create a distinctive ecosystem and widen its lead over Apple in AI functionality. By embedding AI deeply into a vast array of devices, Samsung hopes to create a seamless and intelligent user experience that rivals cannot easily match.
This aggressive rollout underscores how central AI has become to the future of consumer technology. For users in Nigeria and worldwide, it signals a coming wave of smarter, more intuitive smartphones, tablets, and appliances, all driven by the fierce competition between tech's biggest players.
