Samsung Expands Direct Access to AI Assistant with Side Button on Galaxy A Series

Through collaboration between Samsung and Google, more users will soon be able to activate Gemini more intuitively for a smarter mobile experience

LONDON, U.K – Apr 29, 2025 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced that select Galaxy A series devices will soon support AI assistant activation through the side button, bringing a fan-favourite feature from the Galaxy S series to more users and furthering Samsung’s vision of democratizing the latest AI experiences. With this update¹, users will be able to enjoy smarter AI experiences, including launching Gemini² , Google’s AI-powered assistant, by simply pressing and holding the side button.

Samsung introduced Awesome Intelligence³ on the latest Galaxy A series – Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A26 5G – including select fan-favourite AI-powered features that open up Galaxy’s incredible mobile AI experiences to more users. Now, the upcoming update makes it easier for even more Galaxy A series users around the world to complete everyday tasks more intuitively with direct access to Gemini with the side button.

Known for its balance of performance and value, the Galaxy A series now offers a smarter mobile experience thanks to this update. With easier access to Gemini, users can effortlessly check their schedule, find nearby restaurants or get recommendations for birthday gifts using voice commands. They can also carry out tasks across apps⁴ with just a single command – like finding a dinner spot on Google Maps and sending the address to a friend through Messages – spanning Samsung, Google and select third-party apps.

“Samsung and Google have been working together to deliver seamless, intuitive and meaningful AI experiences, making the latest technology more accessible for more users,” said Jay Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Customer Experience Office, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “We’re excited that Galaxy A series users will now be able to activate Gemini faster and more naturally through a simple gesture that brings intelligent support into the flow of daily tasks.”

Faster access to Gemini means help is ready in everyday moments – like making last-minute dinner plans. With a simple voice command, users can say “Find French, pet-friendly restaurants with terrace seating nearby” to Gemini and get suggestions in seconds, making it easy to pick a spot and share it with a friend, without typing a single word.

The software update will roll out globally to select Galaxy A series models starting in early May.

For more information about the Galaxy A series, please visit: Samsung Newsroom UK, Samsungmobilepress.com and Samsung.com/uk.

¹ Availability and supported features may vary by market, carrier and device model. This update will be only available on Galaxy A56 5G, A55 5G, A54 5G, A36 5G, A35 5G, A34 5G, A26 5G, A25 5G, A25e 5G and A24 running One UI 7, and is scheduled to begin rolling out in May. Timing subject to change.
² Internet connection and compatible operating system required. Availability may vary by device, country/region, and language.
³ Awesome Intelligence is available on Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G, and Galaxy A26 5G. Availability of Awesome Intelligence features may vary by country/region, One UI/OS version, device model, and carrier.
⁴ Requires internet connection and Google Account login. Service availability may vary by country/region, language, and device model. Works on compatible apps. Feature availability may differ depending on subscription and results may vary. Set up may be required for certain functions or apps. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.