Samsung’s next foldables aim to make AI more than a chatbot
Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 are expected to bring a significant upgrade to mobile AI, moving beyond simple chatbot interactions. According to a report from Seoul Economic Daily, the devices will ship with One UI 9 and Google’s new Gemini Intelligence, a system designed to handle complex, multi-app workflows. This marks a shift from Samsung’s current Galaxy AI features, which largely focus on single tasks like photo editing or call transcription.
Gemini Intelligence is being positioned as a “deep assistant layer” that can traverse apps and complete linked actions in sequence. In practical terms, this means a user could ask the assistant to open a notes app, write a grocery list, then take those items and automatically add them to a delivery service cart, review the order, and initiate payment—all without manually switching between apps. The appeal is reducing the number of taps needed to accomplish everyday tasks, a goal that resonates with both efficiency seekers and those who find current voice assistants too limited.
How Gemini Intelligence changes the daily phone experience
The clearest example provided in the report involves a grocery run. A user drafts a shopping list in a notes app, then invokes Gemini Intelligence with a command like “order these items for delivery.” The software parses the list, opens a supported delivery app, searches for each item, adds them to the cart, and presents the cart for final approval. The user then reviews and confirms payment. This chain of actions relies on deep integration between Samsung’s One UI and Google’s underlying AI services, as well as compatibility with third-party apps.
That level of automation has been attempted before—Google Assistant had routine features, and Samsung’s Bixby offered custom routines—but never with the fluid cross-app execution that Gemini Intelligence promises. 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 multiple apps in a single request. The difference is akin to moving from a single-threaded assistant to a multi-threaded one that can coordinate across ecosystems.
For foldable phone users, this could be a game-changer. The larger screen of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 (7.6 inches when unfolded) lends itself to multitasking, but manual drag-and-drop and split-screen windows still require friction. An AI that understands context and can automate sequences could turn the foldable into a true productivity powerhouse. The Galaxy Z Flip 8, with its compact clamshell design, might benefit more from voice-first interactions while on the go.
Why foldables get the first taste of Gemini Intelligence
Premium foldables need to justify their high price tags every generation. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 starts at $1,899, and the Flip 6 at $1,099. Software differentiation is one of the few areas Samsung can change the daily experience without increasing hardware costs. By pairing the Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 with exclusive AI capabilities, Samsung gives early adopters a reason to upgrade beyond incremental camera or battery improvements.
This strategy mirrors what we’ve seen with other flagship phone launches: new software often appears on the most expensive models first, then trickles down to mid-range devices. For example, Samsung’s Galaxy AI features—like Live Translate, Note Assist, and Photo Assist—debuted on the Galaxy S24 series before arriving on older flagships via One UI 6.1 updates. Gemini Intelligence could follow the same path, but foldables offer the ideal showcase because their larger screens and multitasking orientation maximize the visibility of multi-app workflows.
Moreover, the foldable market is becoming more competitive. Companies like Oppo, Huawei, and Google have released compelling foldables with their own AI features. Google’s Pixel Fold runs Tensor chips with built-in AI, and Huawei’s Mate X series leverages HarmonyOS AI. Samsung needs to maintain its lead, and deep Google integration for AI is a strong differentiator—especially since Samsung’s own Bixby has struggled to gain traction.
The catch: Gemini Intelligence isn’t in the beta
While excitement is building, there’s an important caveat. The One UI 9 beta that started rolling out to Galaxy S26 users in South Korea and other major markets does not include Gemini Intelligence. The feature is expected to arrive with the final public release, which will likely coincide with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 launch in July. This means that even people testing the beta cannot yet evaluate the feature’s real-world performance.
App compatibility is a major unknown. While Google’s own apps like Gmail, Maps, and Keep will likely work seamlessly, third-party apps—especially delivery services, banking apps, and productivity tools—will need to expose actions that Gemini can interface with. Samsung and Google will need to convince developers to support the new APIs, a challenge that has hindered previous attempts at assistant-led automation.
Speed is another concern. Processing multi-step tasks across apps could introduce latency, especially if the AI has to fetch data from cloud servers. Samsung’s Exynos chips have historically struggled with AI workloads compared to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon, but the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8 are expected to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, which includes a dedicated AI engine. Still, real-time responsiveness will be critical for user trust.
Finally, there’s the issue of cleanup. If the AI misinterprets a list or adds the wrong items, the user is left fixing errors—negating the time saved. Samsung will need to ensure that Gemini Intelligence provides clear confirmation steps and easy undo options, rather than forcing users to manually correct every mistake.
When will Samsung show it off?
Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 at its usual July Unpacked event. This gives the company a clear stage to demonstrate Gemini Intelligence in live demos. The One UI 9 beta for Galaxy S26 users has already started, but the biggest assistant feature is being held back for the official release. For potential buyers, the smart move is to wait for hands-on reviews before treating this as a reason to upgrade immediately.
Pricing and regional availability are still missing from the leak. Samsung typically launches foldables in around 50 markets initially, with wider rollouts over the following months. Given that Gemini Intelligence relies on Google’s services, it may be limited to regions where Google’s AI infrastructure is robust—potentially leaving some markets with a watered-down experience.
For now, the story is one of promise. Samsung has proven it can deliver innovative hardware, but software has often lagged behind. With Gemini Intelligence, the company has an opportunity to change that narrative. Whether it succeeds will depend on execution, developer support, and the ability to make multi-app AI feel magical rather than frustrating.
The next generation of foldables may finally deliver on the “do more” promise that has driven the category since the original Galaxy Fold. But as with any ambitious software feature, the proof will be in the demos—and in the thousands of real-world tasks that users will throw at it starting this July.
Source: Digital Trends News