There can be only One UI 8.5: Samsung brings Google’s AI notification summaries to phone

Samsung is developing an AI-powered notification summary feature for One UI 8.5 that closely mirrors Apple’s controversial notification summaries launched last year. The feature appears to leverage Google’s work-in-progress notification summary technology rather than Samsung’s own development, suggesting a collaborative approach to bringing AI-driven notification management to Android devices.

What you should know: Samsung’s notification summary feature was discovered in the latest One UI 8.5 firmware build by SamMobile, though it’s not currently functional.

• The feature will use AI to summarize long messages and group conversations, identical to Google’s approach.
• Users will see a pop-up explanation when pulling down the notification shade for the first time.
• A “Manage apps” field allows users to exclude specific apps from receiving notification summaries.

How it works: The notification summaries appear to run on-device processing despite initial reports suggesting cloud dependency.

• Screenshots specifically mention the feature uses “AI on your device,” likely powered by Gemini Nano (Google’s compact AI model designed for smartphones) or another local AI model.
• The description emphasizes that “your messages are never sent to Google,” prioritizing privacy for personal conversations.
• Only long messages and group conversations will receive AI-generated summaries.

The big picture: Samsung is essentially implementing Google’s notification summary feature rather than building its own solution.

• The screenshots and descriptions are nearly identical to Google’s own notification summary feature.
• This represents a departure from Samsung’s typical approach of developing proprietary AI features.
• The collaboration suggests Samsung is prioritizing faster deployment over custom development.

Why this matters: Apple’s notification summaries have faced significant criticism for generating inaccurate results, making Samsung’s implementation a crucial test case for Android.

• The feature’s success could determine whether AI-powered notification management becomes standard across mobile platforms.
• Local processing addresses privacy concerns that have plagued cloud-based AI features.
• Samsung’s approach may offer lessons for improving accuracy where Apple’s system has struggled.

What else is coming: One UI 8.5 promises several other significant features beyond notification summaries.

• Pro video options and 3D recording capabilities.
• Native double back tap gesture functionality.
• Tools designed to help users with photosensitive epilepsy.
• The update positions itself as a substantial upgrade for Samsung phone users.