Galaxy AI: What It Is, What It Costs and How to Turn It Off

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Galaxy AI is Samsung’s umbrella name for AI features in its phones, tablets and watches: call translation, audio transcription, photo editing, web page summaries and a daily briefing. Some features run on the device, some use the cloud, and some come from Google, not Samsung. Here’s what Galaxy AI includes, what works in Polish, what it costs now that the “free until the end of 2025” promise has passed, and how to turn it all off step by step.

What is Galaxy AI?

Galaxy AI debuted in January 2024 with the Galaxy S24 and has grown with each version of One UI. Samsung doesn’t sell it separately: it’s a set of features built into system apps, from Phone and Keyboard to Gallery and the browser. Samsung’s Poland website lists features in One UI 9 including Now Brief, Now Nudge, Interpreter, Transcript Assist, Writing Assist, Photo Assist, Creative Studio, Audio Eraser, Auto Trim, Call Screening, Document Scan, My FanCam and Bixby.

Gemini, Google’s assistant, runs alongside Galaxy AI. Since One UI 7, it launches by default when you press and hold the side button, and is integrated with Notes, Calendar, Clock and Gallery. Circle to Search is also a Google product. The Galaxy S26 added a third agent, Perplexity, activated with the phrase “Hey Plex”, and Bixby got its search engine. Galaxy AI and Gemini are two different products from two different companies, which Samsung presents side by side. I cover Google’s assistant in my article on Gemini Live in Polish.

Which devices support Galaxy AI, and what works in Polish?

One UI 9 began rolling out on September 16-17, 2026, starting with the Galaxy S26 and Z Fold8/Flip8. According to SamMobile’s September 21 roundup, new features (My FanCam, Now Nudge and custom Now Brief cards) will come to the S24 and S25 series, the S26 and foldables from the Z6 onward; the Galaxy S23 and Fold5/Flip5 won’t get them. The A series (for example, A57 and A37) gets a limited set: Circle to Search, Gemini, voice transcription, Object Eraser and AI Select. Samsung calls this set “Awesome Intelligence”.

Is Galaxy AI free?

When the S24 launched, Samsung’s websites included a note saying Galaxy AI features would be free “at least until the end of 2025”. In January 2026, Samsung changed the wording. Samsung’s Poland website now says that “basic Galaxy AI features offered by Samsung are free” and that “future versions may include enhanced features or new services offered for a fee”. Android Authority reported on January 14, 2026, that Samsung listed Call Assist, Writing Assist, Photo Assist, Interpreter, Note Assist, Transcript Assist, Browsing Assist, Now Brief and Audio Eraser among the free features. Samsung had announced no paid Galaxy AI plan by September 2026. Partner services have separate terms: Gemini is free in its basic version, and Samsung includes six months of Google AI Pro with the S25, S26 and Z8, according to roundups; after that, you have to pay for the subscription yourself.

How to turn off Galaxy AI and Gemini

• Turn off individual Galaxy AI features. Go to Settings, Galaxy AI (on older versions of One UI: Advanced features, Advanced intelligence). Each feature has its own switch; there’s no single “turn everything off” option.
• Disable Samsung cloud processing. In the same menu, turn on “Process data only on device”. This disables features that require Samsung’s servers (summaries, generative photo editing and Now Brief), while leaving translation, transcription and Audio Eraser available. Note: this setting doesn’t apply to Google. Gemini and Circle to Search will still send data.
• Turn off Now Brief and Now Nudge. Go to Settings, Galaxy AI, Now Nudge, Personal data intelligence, then turn it off. To disable the Now Bar, go to Settings, Lock screen and AOD, Now Bar.
• Remove Gemini from the side button. Go to Settings, Advanced features, Side button, Press and hold, then choose Bixby or Power off menu.
• Change the default assistant from Gemini. Go to Settings, Apps, Choose default apps, Digital assistant app, then choose None. Uninstalling the app alone won’t do this; my guide to turning off Gemini covers the full process and its pitfalls.
• Turn off Circle to Search. Go to Settings, Display, Navigation bar, then turn off Circle to Search.
• Manage Gemini history. At myactivity.google.com/product/gemini, turn off activity saving. Google still keeps conversations for 72 hours, and the default auto-delete period is 18 months.

After a major One UI update, it’s worth checking the list again: new features may be enabled by default.

Privacy

Samsung says that Now Brief and Now Nudge data is analyzed locally in the Personal Data Engine, in encrypted Knox space (KEEP), and deleted when you turn off “Personal data intelligence”. Cloud features require a Samsung account, while generative photo editing requires a Google account. According to an Android Police analysis, the “on-device only” setting doesn’t limit Google’s data collection, so if you want everything to stay local, you need to turn off Gemini and Circle to Search separately. For more on why an on-device model may be slower but more trustworthy, see my article on on-device AI.

Frequently asked questions

Does Galaxy AI work offline?

Partly. Call translation, Live Translate, transcription, writing style improvements in the keyboard and Audio Eraser run on device; summaries, generative photo editing and Bixby require an internet connection.

Can you add Galaxy AI to an older Samsung phone?

There’s no manual installation. The full set is available on the Galaxy S24 and later and foldables from the Z Fold6/Flip6 onward. The S23 and older models received only some features in earlier One UI versions and won’t get the new features in One UI 9.

Is Galaxy AI the same as Gemini?

No. Galaxy AI is Samsung’s set of features built into its apps; Gemini is Google’s assistant installed on the same phone. They’re turned off in different places and are governed by different terms.

How much does Galaxy AI cost?

Basic features cost nothing, according to Samsung’s current note. The company reserves the option to charge for “enhanced” features in the future, but had announced none by September 2026.

// read moreGemini Screen Reading: 11 Taps to Turn Off Across 3 MenusGuidesHow to Turn Off Gemini on Android: 4 Ways and One TrapGuidesGoogle AI Mode: How to Turn It On, Off & What It DoesGuides

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