Google Pays Samsung Monthly to Preinstall Gemini AI on Galaxy Phones, DOJ Trial Reveals

Google LLC has been paying Samsung Electronics Co. a substantial monthly sum to preinstall its Gemini AI app on Galaxy smartphones, according to evidence presented during the ongoing U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) antitrust trial against Google. The agreement, reportedly extendable through 2028, is now under legal examination over its competitive impact.

Details of the financial arrangement emerged during federal court proceedings in Washington, D.C., as part of the DOJ’s antitrust case against Google. Prosecutors described the monthly payment to Samsung as an “extraordinarily large amount,” though specific figures were not disclosed.

The Gemini app, developed by Google as a generative AI assistant and successor to Google Assistant, is currently preinstalled on Samsung Galaxy smartphones, including the flagship Galaxy S24 series. Its integration powers multiple Galaxy AI features, enabling users to access real-time translation, advanced photo editing, and content summarization.

The partnership builds on a longstanding collaboration between Google and Samsung in mobile software and hardware ecosystems. According to internal communications presented during the trial, the Gemini agreement grants Google a central role in Samsung’s AI experience, while providing Samsung with consistent financial incentives.

Prosecutors have raised concerns that Google’s recurring payments to device manufacturers—both Samsung and, separately, Apple Inc.—are designed to limit consumer choice and suppress rival AI services. DOJ attorneys argue that these deals reinforce Google’s dominant position in digital markets, from search to voice assistants, by restricting competition at the device level.

In earlier testimony, DOJ officials referenced Google’s multibillion-dollar agreement with Apple to make Google Search the default engine in Safari, using it as a precedent to demonstrate a pattern of behavior now replicated in the AI space with Gemini.

The Gemini agreement is reportedly renewable through 2028, based on performance metrics and market adoption. Though Google has not commented publicly on the specifics of the deal, company representatives have defended its business practices as pro-consumer and compliant with current antitrust law.

Samsung has not released a public statement regarding the trial disclosures. However, product documentation and marketing materials confirm Gemini’s presence as a default AI feature across new Galaxy models, replacing or supplementing Google Assistant in many tasks.

The Gemini app is also being shipped as a default application on several Android phones beyond Samsung’s portfolio, though the legal spotlight remains on Google’s commercial arrangement with Samsung due to its scale and strategic importance.

The DOJ is seeking structural remedies that could limit Google’s ability to leverage its market position across emerging AI technologies. In one motion, government lawyers proposed that Google divest control over certain browser and AI components to prevent consolidation of digital power.

Gemini has been a key selling point for Samsung’s latest devices, helping to differentiate Galaxy smartphones in the premium Android segment. Despite the current legal scrutiny, consumer adoption of Gemini-integrated features has increased steadily since the S24 launch in January 2024.

The trial is ongoing, with further hearings scheduled through mid-2025. A ruling on the DOJ’s antitrust complaint is expected later this year. Both Google and Samsung may be required to disclose additional details about their partnership if the court grants the DOJ’s request for expanded evidence.