Tech Beetle briefing IN AI

One UI 9 with new Galaxy AI features unveiled at Unpacked 2026: Now Nudge, Gemini Notebook and more

Essential brief

Samsung unveiled One UI 9 at Galaxy Unpacked 2026, featuring new AI tools like Now Nudge and Gemini Notebook, built on Android 17. These updates enhance productivity and user experience with smarte

Key topics

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Key facts

One UI 9 introduces AI tools like Now Nudge and Gemini Notebook to improve productivity and user interaction.

Galaxy AI powered by Google’s Gemini Intelligence enables multi-step tasks across over 40 apps with a single command.

Interface updates include resizable Quick Panel controls, animated lock screen media player, and network speed indicator.

Advanced AI features require newer flagship hardware, limiting full functionality to recent high-end Galaxy devices.

Highlights

One UI 9 is based on Android 17 and launched at Galaxy Unpacked 2026 alongside new devices.

Now Nudge suggests relevant shortcuts based on on-screen activity, enhancing context-aware assistance.

Gemini Notebook helps users collect and summarize notes, links, and videos, supporting drag-and-drop in Split View.

Galaxy AI can perform multiple connected actions in one request and works across 40+ apps and services.

The update includes privacy enhancements with better permission controls and background access alerts.

Why it matters

One UI 9 marks a significant step in integrating advanced AI capabilities into Samsung’s mobile ecosystem, enhancing user productivity and interaction through smarter, context-aware assistance. By expanding AI features across multiple apps and devices, Samsung aims to create a more seamless and efficient user experience. However, hardware requirements for full AI functionality highlight the ongoing balance between software innovation and device capabilities.

Samsung concluded its Galaxy Unpacked event in 2026, launching multiple devices across smartphones, smartwatches, and glasses. Alongside hardware announcements, Samsung introduced One UI 9, its latest Android skin based on Android 17, which includes several new AI-driven features and interface improvements. One UI 9 aims to enhance user productivity and interaction through smarter AI tools and refined controls.

One of the key AI features is Now Nudge, which monitors on-screen activity and suggests relevant shortcuts, such as prompting users to check their calendar when discussing plans via text. The update also introduces an AI assistant activity dashboard that provides transparency by showing AI actions performed on the user’s behalf and allows direct management of AI agents.

New foldable devices come equipped with Gemini Notebook, a tool that collects notes, links, and videos on a topic and converts them into summaries, quizzes, or podcasts. Gemini Notebook supports drag-and-drop in Split View and can generate reports, meeting recaps, infographics, and audio overviews. Additionally, Gemini Intelligence now supports multi-step tasks across more than 40 apps, enabling complex actions like booking travel or making reservations through a single request.

Interface enhancements include resizable brightness, sound, and media controls in the Quick Panel with thicker sliders for easier use. The lock screen media player now features waveform animations synced to music, and a network speed indicator has been added to the status bar. Samsung Notes gains new creative options such as digital tapes and additional pen styles, while the Contacts app integrates Creative Studio for personalized profile cards. The Now Brief feature offers more personalized recommendations and privacy insights.

Privacy improvements include enhanced permission controls and alerts that notify users when apps access sensitive data in the background. The Samsung Browser introduces an 'Ask AI' feature to summarize content or answer questions based on the current webpage. Creative Studio also benefits from AI support for faster creation of visual elements.

One UI 9’s Galaxy AI, powered by Google’s Gemini Intelligence, enables users to perform multiple connected tasks with a single command, reducing the need to switch between apps. However, advanced AI features require newer flagship processors, at least 12GB of RAM, and Gemini Nano v3, limiting full functionality to recent high-end devices.

The update is initially available on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8, with a planned rollout to other Galaxy devices including the S26, S25, S24, S23 series, and select Galaxy A and M series models. Availability may vary by region and carrier.

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