Google Pays Samsung to Preinstall Gemini AI Amid Ongoing Antitrust Battle
Testimony from Google’s ongoing antitrust trial has revealed that the company is paying Samsung a substantial monthly sum to preinstall its Gemini AI app on Samsung devices, according to Bloomberg. The payments reportedly began in January 2025, aligning with the launch of Samsung’s Galaxy S25 series.
As part of the agreement, Gemini replaced Samsung’s own Bixby assistant as the default when users long-press the power button. The deal includes fixed monthly payments and a revenue-sharing arrangement, where Samsung receives a portion of the ad revenue generated by Gemini. While the exact figures remain confidential, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) lawyer David Dahlquist described the payments as an “enormous sum.”
The revelations come as the DOJ argues that Google’s past and present deals with companies like Samsung and Apple helped the company maintain an illegal monopoly in search. Judge Amit Mehta has already ruled that Google violated antitrust laws. The court is now debating what penalties the company should face.
According to The Information, Google had considered more restrictive distribution agreements, which would have required phone makers to preinstall Gemini alongside Google Search and Chrome. Internal documents and recent communications presented during the trial suggest that Google is still actively shaping these deals—some as recent as last week.
As part of the agreement, Gemini replaced Samsung’s own Bixby assistant as the default when users long-press the power button. The deal includes fixed monthly payments and a revenue-sharing arrangement, where Samsung receives a portion of the ad revenue generated by Gemini. While the exact figures remain confidential, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) lawyer David Dahlquist described the payments as an “enormous sum.”
The DOJ is pushing for strict remedies, which could include banning default placement deals, forcing Google to divest Chrome, and requiring it to license its search data. Google, on the other hand, argues that only the default placement practices should be addressed.
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