Samsung may be preparing a major change in its artificial intelligence strategy by bringing Perplexity as an AI assistant to future Galaxy smartphones. Recent reports suggest that the company is testing a new voice hotword for invoking the assistant on upcoming devices, similar to “Hey Gemini” which is currently used on Galaxy phones.
According to a report based on an APK teardown of the Perplexity app for Android version 2.69.3, several code strings point to an in development hotword feature. The analysis was carried out by a technology publication in collaboration with tipster AssembleDebug. The findings suggest that users may be able to activate the Perplexity assistant using the “Hey Plex” hotword, even when the phone screen is turned off.
To enable this feature, Galaxy users would need to agree to have their voice print collected and processed. They would also need to accept the relevant terms and conditions and allow audio recording access. The report adds that users may have the option to delete the hotword and re record their voice print if required.
The feature is expected to work only with the built in microphones on Galaxy devices. If Bluetooth headphones or an external microphone are connected, the app may display a Please disconnect message, indicating that the hotword will not function in such cases.
The teardown also revealed new services added to the Perplexity app, including call in actions such as samsung.hotword.service and samsung.hotword.service.permission.ACCESS_HOTWORD_SERVICE. A new WakeWordDetectionService foreground service has also been identified, which would handle voice activation and wake word detection.
These services appear to be designed specifically for Galaxy devices and rely on Samsung’s own hotword software development kit, known as com.samsung.android.hotword.sdk.IHotwordSdk. This suggests close integration between Samsung’s system level features and the Perplexity assistant.
Two image files were also found in the app, indicating that Perplexity could be pre installed on future Galaxy smartphones. Based on earlier reports, the collaboration is expected to debut with the One UI 8.5 update, which is likely to launch alongside the Galaxy S26 series early next year. If so, the “Hey Plex” hotword could make its first appearance with Samsung’s next flagship lineup.
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