Samsung’s next foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8, are expected to put mobile AI to work in a more practical and seamless way. According to a report from Seoul Economic Daily, these devices will ship with One UI 9 and Google’s new Gemini Intelligence, giving them a deeper assistant layer than the current Galaxy AI features. This shift marks a significant evolution in how Samsung approaches on-device intelligence, moving from simple voice commands to proactive, cross-app automation.

What is Gemini Intelligence?

Gemini Intelligence is being positioned as software that can move through related apps and complete linked tasks. In practice, that means a phone assistant that can follow a chain of actions across apps, rather than stopping after a single reply. For example, 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 pay—all within a single natural language request. This is a far cry from current digital assistants like Bixby or Siri, which typically handle only one app at a time and require multiple user interventions.

The underlying technology leverages Google’s Gemini large language model, which has been trained on vast amounts of data to understand context, intent, and sequential steps. Samsung has tailored this to work seamlessly with One UI 9, integrating it into the system's core rather than treating it as a standalone app. The goal is to reduce the number of taps and screens a user must navigate, making the phone feel like a true personal assistant that anticipates needs rather than just reacting to them.

How much can Gemini actually do?

The clearest example 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 pay. That’s 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. This multi-step, multi-app capability is what sets Gemini Intelligence apart from Galaxy AI features like Bixby Routines or Samsung’s Smart Suggestions, which are more rigid and rule-based.

In addition to grocery shopping, Gemini Intelligence could streamline tasks like booking a flight (searching flights in a browser, then adding the details to a calendar and sending a message to a contact), ordering food (selecting items from a restaurant app and adding them to a delivery service), or managing emails (composing a reply, scheduling a meeting, and updating a task list). The system is designed to work with popular third-party apps, though the final list of supported services will only be confirmed at launch. Samsung has been working closely with Google and other developers to ensure broad compatibility, but early adopters may encounter limitations with less common apps.

Why would 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 is one of the few places Samsung can change the daily experience. By launching Gemini Intelligence exclusively on these high-end devices initially, Samsung can create a halo effect that drives interest in the entire Galaxy Z lineup. Historically, Samsung has used its foldables as a testbed for new features—like the improved multitasking on the Z Fold series—before rolling them out to the Galaxy S series.

However, this also means that buyers of the Galaxy S26 or the more affordable Galaxy A series will have to wait. Samsung has not announced a timeline for broader availability, but if Gemini Intelligence proves popular, it could trickle down to other models within a year. The foldable form factor itself also lends well to the feature, as the larger internal display on the Z Fold 8 allows for easier visual management of multiple app windows—perfect for reviewing a cart while confirming payment details, for example.

Current beta and timeline

There’s still a catch. Gemini Intelligence isn’t in the One UI 9 beta that started for Galaxy S26 users in South Korea and other major markets. It’s expected to arrive in the final release instead, so the real test will be app compatibility, speed, and how much cleanup it leaves behind. Samsung and Google need to ensure the AI doesn’t make mistakes that require the user to undo actions. For instance, if the AI misidentifies an item from a shopping list and adds the wrong product, or if it fails to capture a coupon code, the user experience could become frustrating. The success of Gemini Intelligence will hinge on its reliability and precision.

Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 in July, giving it an obvious stage for Gemini Intelligence. One UI 9 beta testing has already started for Galaxy S26 users in major markets, including South Korea, but the biggest assistant feature is still being held back for the official release. This strategy allows Samsung to gather feedback on the OS and fix any bugs before launching the flagship AI feature simultaneously with the new hardware. It also builds anticipation among tech enthusiasts and early adopters who follow the beta program.

What this means for competitors

Samsung is not the only player pushing AI on smartphones. Apple has been rumored to be working on a more advanced Siri with on-device intelligence, while Google has already integrated Gemini into the Pixel series. However, the approach differs: Apple focuses heavily on privacy and on-device processing, whereas Samsung and Google are combining on-device and cloud-based AI to handle complex tasks. Gemini Intelligence, in particular, benefits from Google’s vast data ecosystem, including Maps, Gmail, and Calendar, which can provide contextual information for tasks.

For example, when a user asks to “remind me to pick up milk on the way home,” Gemini Intelligence can cross-reference the user’s location, traffic data, and store hours to suggest the best time and place. This level of integration requires deep permissions, and Samsung will need to address privacy concerns. The company has stated that all processing for sensitive tasks will be done locally on the device using a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU), while less sensitive queries may leverage the cloud for faster responses.

Pricing and availability

As of now, pricing for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 has not been announced, but past trends suggest the Fold will start around $1,800 and the Flip around $1,000. Regional availability is also unknown, though Samsung typically launches its foldables in major markets like the US, South Korea, Europe, and parts of Asia first. For buyers, the smart move is to wait for live demos before treating this as a reason to upgrade. Pricing and regional availability are still missing, and Samsung’s next foldables will have to prove the automation saves time without leaving users to fix the result.

Ultimately, Gemini Intelligence represents Samsung’s boldest attempt yet to differentiate its foldables through software. If the live demos show seamless multi-app workflows with minimal errors, it could set a new standard for what a smartphone assistant can do. But if early implementations are glitchy or limited to a handful of apps, the feature may become a footnote rather than a selling point. The industry will be watching closely when Samsung takes the stage in July.

Source: Digital Trends News