Google's artificial intelligence platform, Gemini, is one of the most common AI features on Samsung's devices. However, this could change soon as Samsung is in discussion with companies such as Microsoft, Meta and OpenAI to bring their AI apps to its phones, according to Google.
Peter Fitzgerald, Google's VP for Global Partnerships, Platforms & Devices, made this revelation during an antitrust case brought against the search giant by the US Department of Justice.
The DoJ wants to curb Google's monopoly in the search engine business and wants an order that would require it to sell its web browser, Google Chrome. The antitrust case began when Google was accused of abusing its monopoly over the search engine space.
Judge Mehta had ruled that Google's practice of paying companies such as Apple and Samsung to make it the default search engine on their devices is a violation of antitrust law. Now he is hearing additional testimony to decide how Google can correct its illegal activities. It is from this case that the Samsung revelation has come.
At the opening arguments of the trial, the lawyer representing the DOJ said that new rules are required to ensure that Google can't use its AI capabilities to enhance its monopoly in the search business. The DOJ has said that Alphabet, Google's parent company, pays Samsung an “enormous sum of money” monthly to preinstall Google's AI app, Gemini.
As per Fitzegerald, the payments began in January and are expected to run for at least two years. Under the agreement, Samsung gets payments for every device that pre-installs Gemini. Samsung also gets a portion of the revenue Google gets from paid subscriptions for the Gemini app.
Fitzgerald argued that Samsung is in discussion with leading AI companies such as Microsoft, Meta, and OpenAI to bring their AI apps to its devices. It has received “competitive offers” from such companies, he said.
“We took into consideration what was being offered by competitors,” Fitzgerald said on Google's payment deal with Samsung. The contract allows Samsung to add alternative AI services to its devices as well. Google has also changed its search engine agreement with Samsung, thus eliminating the requirement for Samsung to pre-install only the Google search engine.
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