Samsung's Galaxy Phones Might Get "Hey Plex" Feature
Samsung is on the verge of revolutionizing the way users interact with AI on its Galaxy smartphones. Recent reports suggest that the company is developing a new voice command feature for the Perplexity AI assistant. This innovation would allow users to activate the assistant simply by saying “Hey Plex,” similar to existing voice triggers for other AI assistants on Android devices.
The information comes from a detailed review of the Perplexity app’s Android code, conducted by Android Authority in collaboration with a tipster named AssembleDebug. This review specifically examined version 2.69.3 of the app and uncovered text strings indicating voice activation support. These clues suggest that users may soon be able to summon the Perplexity assistant without even turning on their phone screens.
For this feature to work, users would need to consent to voice data collection and accept the app's terms of use. The setup process might involve the app recording a voice sample to help the system recognize the user's speech patterns. Moreover, users will have the option to delete the stored hotword and record a new voice sample if they wish to change it. Notably, the feature will require access to the device’s microphone to function properly.
The code review also indicates that the “Hey Plex” hotword will only work through the phone’s built-in microphones. If a user connects Bluetooth earphones or an external microphone, the app may prompt them to disconnect these accessories to ensure effective voice recognition. This highlights the importance of direct access to the phone’s internal hardware for reliable voice activation.
In addition, the review pointed to several new system-level services designed for Samsung devices. These include call-in actions linked to the hotword feature and a dedicated service for wake word detection, which relies on Samsung's proprietary hotword software tools.
Furthermore, the app package reportedly includes image files suggesting that Perplexity may come preloaded on specific Galaxy models. Earlier reports hinted that Samsung might roll out this feature with the One UI 8.5 software version, expected to be launched alongside the Galaxy S26 series early next year.
If Samsung moves forward with these plans, the Galaxy S26 lineup could be the first to deeply integrate Perplexity into its system, providing users with an innovative way to access AI capabilities through voice commands.
