According to recent reports from The Wall Street Journal, it appears that Samsung has hit the pause button on its initial plan to replace Google with Bing
As the default search engine for its proprietary Internet Browser. Samsung’s Internet Browser, which comes pre-loaded on all Samsung phones, has traditionally partnered with Google as its default search engine. The New York Times reported last month that Google staff were taken aback upon discovering Samsung’s potential move towards Bing, considering it would place the $3 billion annual revenue from the partnership in jeopardy.
The Wall Street Journal suggests that Samsung may have initially thought that a transition to Bing would not cause significant disruptions, given that a majority of Samsung smartphone owners do not use the default browser. However, the smartphone giant has reportedly reconsidered the decision, mindful of the possible impact it could have on their relationship with Google and the market’s perception of this strategic move.
While it remains unclear why Samsung was considering the shift to Bing, it could be related to Microsoft’s accelerated push into the AI arena. In the meantime, Google has been busy enhancing its search engine with AI-driven features, and its AI chatbot Bard is now accessible to all users not on the waiting list.
This development doesn’t definitively close the door on a potential switch to Bing in the future. The Wall Street Journal article suggests that Samsung may still contemplate Bing as its default search engine down the line, thereby keeping the possibilities open.
