Google is the default search engine on most modern smartphones, including Android and iOS. It has been in the dominant position for many years, but it started to see some competition from Microsoft Bing earlier this year after it launched ChatGPT-powered conversational search. There were rumors that Samsung might switch to Bing as the default search engine on its smartphones, but that didn't happen. A new report explains why Samsung didn't make the move.
According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, Samsung tried to make it easier for Galaxy smartphone and tablet users to change the default search engine on its in-house web browser, Samsung Internet. However, Google opposed that move, stating that such a move from Samsung would breach the agreement between the two companies, which would have meant the South Korean firm needed to pay a huge fine, and maybe that would also have led to a legal battle. So, Samsung ultimately had to back down.
All this information has come to light as a part of the ongoing antimonopoly trial in the US. The case spilled the beans on how Google uses its market position to thwart competition and uses hardball tactics to keep Google as the default search engine on smartphones from Apple, Samsung, and several others. The Justice Department in the US says Google's tactics are illegal and that it uses restrictive agreements with its clients.
Over the past few months, Generative AI and conversational search have started gaining momentum. Samsung tried to switch to Bing AI search on its smartphones but failed. However, the South Korean tech giant is still reportedly working on a ChatGPT-like search bot that could make its way to its future smartphones, tablets, and other devices. Samsung has already announced that Generative AI is coming to its Tizen-based smart TVs.
