Samsung's next wave of foldable smartphones is poised to deliver a more practical and integrated AI experience, building on the Galaxy AI foundation introduced in 2024. According to a report from Seoul Economic Daily, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 will ship with One UI 9 and Google's new Gemini Intelligence, a deep assistant layer that goes beyond the current Galaxy AI capabilities.
Gemini Intelligence is being positioned as software that can navigate through related applications and complete linked tasks in a single request. Instead of stopping after a single reply, the assistant follows a chain of actions across apps, promising a seamless multi-step workflow that could drastically reduce the number of taps a user needs to perform common daily activities.
How Gemini Intelligence Works
The clearest example provided is a grocery run. A user could write a shopping list in a notes app, ask Gemini Intelligence to move those items into a delivery app cart, then review the cart and proceed to payment. This kind of cross-app automation has been a long-standing goal for smartphone assistants, but previous attempts have been limited by strict app sandboxes and lack of deep integration.
That is the appeal Samsung has to prove. Fewer taps matter more than another polished chatbot window. Samsung already introduced some app-launching behavior with One UI 8.5 on the Galaxy S26 series, but One UI 9 is expected to handle more than one app in the same request, making it a significant leap forward in mobile AI utility.
Why Foldables Get It First
The Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 are reportedly first in line for Gemini Intelligence, which gives Samsung a cleaner way to sell the next wave of Galaxy AI. Premium foldables have to justify their price every year, and software innovation is one of the few areas where Samsung can change the daily user experience dramatically. By tying a groundbreaking AI feature to its most expensive devices, Samsung reinforces the idea that foldables are not just about larger screens but about a smarter, more efficient interaction model.
There is still a catch. Gemini Intelligence is not included in the One UI 9 beta that started for Galaxy S26 users in South Korea and other major markets. It is expected to arrive in the final release instead, meaning the real test will be app compatibility, execution speed, and how much cleanup the AI leaves behind after performing tasks.
Technical and Privacy Considerations
Implementing multi-app automation requires deep access to app data and actions, raising important privacy questions. Google and Samsung have emphasized that Gemini Intelligence will process requests on-device as much as possible, with optional cloud-based processing for complex tasks. Users will likely need to grant specific permissions for each app involved, and the assistant will show a summary of actions before executing them, giving users a chance to review and cancel.
Another challenge is app compatibility. Not all Android apps expose the necessary APIs for external automation. Samsung is working with major developers to ensure popular apps like shopping, note-taking, and food delivery services are supported at launch. The broader ecosystem will likely receive updates over time, but early adopters may find that not every desired workflow is available.
One UI 9 Beta and Expansion Plans
One UI 9 beta testing for the Galaxy S26 series has already begun in South Korea, the US, and other key markets, but beta participants are not yet seeing Gemini Intelligence. This suggests that Samsung is keeping the feature under wraps until the official launch, possibly to fine-tune performance and compatibility. The final One UI 9 release is expected alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 in July, making the foldables the flagship showcases for this new AI capability.
Beyond foldables, the feature is likely to trickle down to other premium Galaxy devices, such as the S series and Note series, in subsequent updates. However, Samsung may choose to keep Gemini Intelligence exclusive to newer hardware that includes the necessary neural processing unit improvements, as the AI tasks require real-time on-device computing power.
Market Context and Competition
Apple has been rumored to be developing similar cross-app automation for Siri, but has not yet delivered a fully functional implementation. Google's own Pixel devices have been testing features like "Hold for Me" and "Direct My Call," but Gemini Intelligence represents a far more ambitious vision of an AI agent that can act on behalf of the user across multiple steps. If successful, this could give Samsung a significant software advantage over competitors in the premium smartphone segment, especially among productivity-focused users.
Pricing for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 is expected to remain in line with previous generations, starting around $1,800 for the Fold and $1,000 for the Flip. Regional availability is still unconfirmed, but Samsung typically launches foldables in dozens of countries simultaneously. For potential buyers, the smart move is to wait for live demos before treating Gemini Intelligence as a reason to upgrade. The automation must prove it saves time without leaving users stuck fixing broken workflows.
Ultimately, Samsung's bet on Gemini Intelligence is a bet on a more autonomous smartphone experience. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 will serve as the proving ground for a new generation of mobile AI, where the assistant doesn't just answer questions but takes action. The industry will be watching closely to see if Samsung can deliver on the promise of fewer taps and more freedom.
Source: Digital Trends News