1. Samsung Galaxy S26: The First Phone Where AI Operates Apps on Your Behalf
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S26 series today, and it marks a genuine milestone: this is the first smartphone where an AI agent can autonomously operate third-party apps. Powered by Google's Gemini, the phone can order an Uber ride, place grocery orders, and complete food delivery requests — all from a single voice command, without the user ever opening an app.
The S26 integrates three AI agents — Samsung's Bixby, Google's Gemini, and Perplexity — giving users a choice of assistants. Google also previewed advanced on-device Scam Detection that runs locally on the phone, analyzing calls in real time to warn users about potential fraud without sending data to the cloud.
Why it matters: This is the clearest preview yet of where all smartphones are heading. CNBC noted that Samsung's implementation could foreshadow what Apple's AI-powered Siri will eventually look like. The shift from "AI that answers questions" to "AI that takes actions" is now in your pocket. For business owners, this means your customers will increasingly interact with your services through AI intermediaries, not your app directly.
2. Google Adds Agentic AI to Opal — Anyone Can Now Build AI-Powered Apps
Google Labs quietly upgraded Opal, its no-code app building platform, with a powerful new feature: an agentic AI step powered by the Gemini 3 Flash model. Instead of users manually defining every workflow step, the AI agent now determines the best path to complete complex tasks on its own. Users describe what they want in plain language, and Opal builds it.
This shifts Opal from a simple orchestration tool into something far more ambitious — a platform where non-technical users can create sophisticated AI-powered applications. The agent can plan multi-step workflows, make decisions, and execute tasks based on a single goal description.
Why it matters: The barrier to building software just dropped to near zero. If you can describe what you want in a sentence, you can now build an app that does it. For solopreneurs and small business owners, this is transformative — custom AI tools that would have cost thousands to develop can now be created in minutes. Google is betting that the future of software isn't coding; it's describing.
3. AI Startups Raised Over $2 Billion This Week Alone
The AI investment frenzy shows no signs of cooling. This week's highlights: World Labs, focused on physical AI and 3D world models, closed a massive $1 billion round, with Autodesk investing $200 million of that total. An AI accounting startup reached unicorn status at a $1.15 billion valuation. And Profound, an 18-month-old startup helping brands stay visible as AI threatens traditional search, raised $96 million at a $1 billion valuation.
The common thread across these deals is that investors are now funding AI companies that solve specific, tangible business problems — not just building foundation models. Physical AI, automated accounting, and AI-powered brand visibility represent the next wave of practical AI applications.
Why it matters: The AI market is maturing from "build the biggest model" to "solve the biggest problems." When Autodesk — a company that makes tools for architects and engineers — invests $200 million in physical AI, it signals that AI is moving beyond screens and into the real world. For business owners watching from the sidelines, the message is clear: the companies being built today with AI will be the competitors you face tomorrow.
The Bottom Line
This week ends with AI stepping firmly into the physical world. Your phone now has an AI agent that acts on your behalf. Building an app no longer requires code — just a description. And investors are pouring billions into AI companies that solve real-world problems, from 3D modeling to accounting. The weekend question worth considering: what task in your business could an AI agent handle if you just described it clearly enough?
Enjoy your weekend. The Intelligence Brief returns Monday.
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