This article was first published in Digital Edge, The Edge Malaysia Weekly from April 13, 2026 to April 19, 2026.
Smartphones are set to evolve from tools we operate manually to intelligent systems that can anticipate our needs and act on our behalf. This capability is powered by agentic artificial intelligence (AI), which allows systems to move beyond passive responses and become competent assistants capable of managing increasingly complex tasks with minimal user input.
“Agent AI will revolutionize the role of smartphones by becoming more proactive, turning them into truly intelligent personal assistants. Smartphones are a natural fit for this evolution as they are already at the center of our digital lives and are aware of our schedules, usage patterns, locations and connected services,” said Matthew Ng, Head of Mobile Experience Business at Samsung Malaysia Electronics.
“Agential AI is the ability of an AI to reason, plan, and act across multiple steps without the user having to explicitly direct it at every step. The key difference is that while traditional AI waits to be triggered, agentive AI can understand the context and predict what the user will need next.”
Since then, Samsung has introduced a number of AI-powered agent features to the Galaxy S26 to streamline daily tasks and reduce the number of micro-decisions users need to make throughout the day. Rather than constantly navigating apps and toggling between features, users can utilize their devices to manage their actions more seamlessly.
Ng said the agent AI experience on Galaxy S26 will be most noticeable during complex moments, such as when plans change unexpectedly, schedules conflict, or real-time conditions change.
“In such situations, features like Now Nudge proactively suggest what to do next or what factors to consider, helping users adapt without additional stress. Over time, these advances will fundamentally improve people’s relationship with technology,” he added.
Additionally, Samsung is pursuing a multi-agent framework that allows multiple AI agents to integrate and work together. Continuing its work with Google’s Gemini, the company has partnered with Perplexity AI to give users access to a variety of AI assistants for tasks ranging from real-time searches and answers to deeper context-level and system-level actions.
Because agent AI can act with some degree of autonomy rather than simply responding to prompts, users tend to have concerns about privacy, security, and control.
Agent systems rely on contextual data such as messages, calendars, and usage patterns to work effectively, so it’s important to be clear about what data users will have access to and for how long, Ng says.
“There’s also the issue of explainability. If AI can make independent decisions and recommendations, users need to understand the reasoning behind them. Even accurate results won’t inspire confidence if the decision-making process feels opaque,” he added.
For Samsung, the solution is not to reduce the number of AIs, but to put stronger guardrails in place. “These concerns are not a sign of resistance to innovation, but rather reflect how much users value trust, autonomy, and accountability,” Ng says.
For example, Samsung introduced Privacy Alert on the Galaxy S26. It uses machine learning to proactively notify users in real-time when an app attempts to access sensitive data, making background activity more visible and understandable.
The company also prioritizes on-device processing whenever possible to reduce dependence on external data flows. Personal Data Engine delivers context-aware, personalized AI experiences directly on your device. Meanwhile, Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection protects these interactions at the software level by isolating each app’s data, ensuring sensitive information doesn’t leave your phone unnecessarily.
“These measures will increase transparency into how decisions are made on your behalf and give you clear control over what AI can and cannot access,” Ng said.
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