As you can see from our Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Ultra reviews, there are plenty of reasons to be interested in Samsung’s new phones, even if the new hardware hasn’t altered much. That’s because Samsung has focused on Galaxy AI this time around, introducing a slew of new AI-powered capabilities while improving those that debuted with the Galaxy S24 a year ago.
Unlike other of my colleagues, I have yet to have an opportunity to hold the Galaxy S25 devices, even for a brief period of time. So when one of the new Galaxy phones makes its way to me, the feature I’m going to make a beeline for is the newly support for cross app actions.
Until now, artificial intelligence on your smartphone hasn’t been very good at multitasking. Cross-app actions change that, as the Gemini assistant on the Galaxy S25 now allows you to engage with both Google and Samsung applications. At debut, it also supports Whatsapp and Spotify.
Even better, Galaxy AI can now handle several commands simultaneously. If I want to find out what time the Super Bowl begins, I can also instruct Gemini to send a text inviting my friends over at that moment while blocking out an item on my calendar.
However, Samsung claims there is more to it than that. You’ll also be able to take a photo of what’s in your refrigerator and have the AI generate a recipe using what you have on hand. Give your helper a research task and have them paste the results into a note. And all of this can be accomplished with a single command—or so the sales pitch goes.
I’m quite fascinated by the potential here, which is the ability to manage many jobs without having to switch between apps. Instead, Gemini handles everything for you, which could save you time. That is the type of AI feature I’d like to see more of on my phone.
My colleagues have tested cross-app activities for their evaluations, but I still have a few questions that I’d want to have answered, either by using the feature personally or as more information becomes available. Here’s what I’m hoping to find out.
How intuitive will it be to order the AI around?
Years of utilizing digital assistants have made me a little concerned that my seemingly sensible request would result in the AI equivalent of a “huh?” Presumably, Galaxy AI responds well to natural language commands, but I’m curious to see if I need to word my request very specifically to get the desired result. How much trial and error will this require?
In a similar spirit, what happens if I request a cross-app activity that isn’t supported? Ideally, the Galaxy AI would identify the precise element of my request that requires an app it doesn’t fully work with yet—anything more helpful than a terse “I can’t do that.” Make me aware of what you can do.
Will other apps add support — and how soon will that happen?
I’m going to presume that Samsung and Google prioritized their own apps from the start so that they could ensure that those offers were ready for the Galaxy S25. To be honest, many people will utilize the on-device apps for texting, emailing, taking notes, and other tasks.
However, it is evident that Samsung will want third-party apps to support their own apps. And if I buy the Galaxy S25, I’d like to know which applications are included and when cross-app activities capability will be available for some of the major hitters other than Whatsapp and Spotify.
That’s not going to be an answer I find out right away, but it’s still something I’m eager to learn.
How will cross app actions compare to Apple Intelligence?
Samsung does not add features in a vacuum. On the other side of the mobile platform, Apple is busy introducing its own AI-powered capabilities, such as Apple Intelligence. One of the upcoming changes will allow Siri to connect with other apps. This means that Apple’s assistant will be able to conduct sophisticated activities and send messages right within those apps. According to reports, functionality will be added in the iOS 18.4 update, which is scheduled for release this spring.
I’m curious to see how that behavior unfolds at launch, particularly which apps will operate with Siri immediately away and how it compares to cross-app activities on the Galaxy S25. Based on the rumors, we should have an answer soon.
Cross app actions outlook
Not long after Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S25 range for the first time, I predicted that the Galaxy S25 would be the tipping point for AI on smartphones, determining whether this is the game-changing development promised. My experience with cross-app activities after trying out the S25 may not be the last word on the matter, but it will go a long way toward solidifying my thoughts on mobile AI.
