This article first appeared in Digital Edge, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on April 13, 2026 - April 19, 2026

Smartphones are set to evolve from tools we manually operate into intelligent systems that can predict our needs and act on our behalf. This capability is driven by agentic artificial intelligence (AI), which allows systems to move beyond passive responses and become capable assistants that are able to manage increasingly complex tasks with minimal user input.

“By becoming more proactive, agentic AI will significantly reshape the role of the smartphone, transforming it into a truly intelligent personal assistant. Smartphones are naturally suited for this evolution because they already sit at the centre of our digital lives — they are aware of our schedules, usage patterns, locations and connected services,” says Matthew Ng, head of mobile eXperience business at Samsung Malaysia Electronics.

“What we mean by agentic AI is the ability for AI to reason, plan and act across multiple steps without needing users to explicitly instruct it at every stage. The key difference is that traditional AI waits to be activated, whereas agentic AI understands context and can anticipate what a user may need next.”

Samsung has since introduced a number of agentic AI-powered features on the Galaxy S26 to streamline everyday tasks, reducing the number of micro decisions users need to make throughout the day. Rather than constantly navigating apps and toggling between functions, users can rely on the device to manage actions more seamlessly.

Ng says the agentic AI experience on the Galaxy S26 becomes most evident during moments of complexity, such as when plans change unexpectedly, schedules collide or real-time conditions shift.

“In such situations, features like Now Nudge can proactively suggest what to do next or what factors to consider, helping users adapt without added stress. Over time, these advancements will fundamentally improve the relationship people have with technology,” he adds.

Moreover, Samsung is pursuing a multi-agent framework in which multiple AI agents can be integrated and work together. The company is partnering with Perplexity AI, while continuing its collaboration with Google’s Gemini, to give users access to different AI assistants for different tasks, from real-time search and answers to deeper contextual and system-level actions.

As agentic AI does not simply respond to prompts and can act with a degree of autonomy, users tend to have concerns about privacy, security and control.

Agentic systems rely on contextual data such as messages, calendars and usage patterns to function effectively, making it critical for users to have clarity on what data is accessed and for how long, says Ng.

“There is also the question of explainability. When AI can make independent decisions or suggestions, users need to understand the reasoning behind them. Even accurate outcomes do not build confidence if the decision-making process feels opaque,” he adds.

For Samsung, the solution is not to have less AI but to have stronger guard rails. “These concerns are not signs of resistance to innovation, but reflect how much users value trust, autonomy and accountability,” says Ng.

For example, Samsung introduced Privacy Alert on the Galaxy S26. This is a feature that uses machine learning to proactively notify users in real time when apps attempt to access sensitive data, making background activity more visible and understandable.

The company also prioritises on-device processing wherever possible to reduce reliance on external data flows. Its Personal Data Engine enables context-aware and personalised AI experiences directly on the device, while Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection safeguards these interactions at the software level by isolating each app’s data, ensuring sensitive information does not leave the phone unnecessarily.

“These measures ensure clear user controls over what AI can and cannot access, alongside greater transparency in how decisions are made on the user’s behalf,” says Ng.

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