Samsung’s JB Park makes privacy and user control the centrepiece of the Galaxy S26

Most things in life are meant to be private. Yet the language of privacy is rapidly changing in the digital age. Today, it is about being able to define for ourselves who we are to the world — and on our own terms. That idea sits at the heart of Samsung’s latest offering, the Galaxy S26 series.

The phone, after all, has become the repository of our most sensitive information, from government IDs and financial details to health metrics and work materials. “One of the most significant innovations is Privacy Display on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Unlike third-party filters, it’s integrated directly into the display, preserving the viewing experience in everyday use while limiting visibility from side angles.

Users can limit privacy to specific parts of the screen or customise when it activates, making discreet protection feel seamless and intuitive,” said JB Park, president and CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia, when we met recently as part of a select group of journalists in San Francisco.

Privacy at the pixel level Privacy Display is unlike anything we have seen on smartphones. It is a hardware feature at the pixel level rather than a film applied to screens. The new technology from Samsung uses narrow pixels and controls how they disperse light. Viewed straight on, the display functions exactly as it should; from the sides, however, it dims to the point that it may appear almost switched off.

“Galaxy S26 series also enhances on-device privacy with personal context processing that ensures sensitive data never leaves the device. While the S26 series offers an array of AI agents, users remain in control of exactly how and when their personal information is shared, maintaining full autonomy over their data.

Even when interacting with partner AI agents through Samsung apps — including Samsung Notes, Calendar, Gallery, Reminder and Clock — users can control whether data is shared to train partner models or to profile users for targeted advertising,” said Park. A couple of decades ago, it was often pointed out that maintaining privacy was integral to the Internet’s future because consumers needed to feel safe enough to participate.

With artificial intelligence now embedded all around us, privacy has become an even more pressing concern. Park also highlighted the importance of Privacy Alerts, which use intelligent monitoring to “proactively notify users when apps attempt to access device admin controls or sensitive data, such as precise location, call logs or contacts, helping users manage security permissions with greater clarity and control”.

He added: “We ensure that AI follows your command and your will. We cannot let it spill out of your control and start generating things that are not authentic.” The rise of agentic AI Another notable aspect of the Galaxy S26 series is the implementation of agentic AI. In 2024, Samsung took a bold step by introducing a suite of AI features under the Galaxy AI banner.

In just a couple of years, it has moved further ahead. Consider using Gemini’s new agentic features while ordering a pizza for dinner from a busy family group chat. Users, of course, retain full control over what agentic AI can do, especially when it comes to making payments. “User control and data protection are built into Galaxy AI from the start.

When multiple AI agents are involved on S26, access to personal information is strictly limited to what’s needed to complete a specific task. All Galaxy AI experiences operate within Samsung’s Knox security framework, which applies consistent technical and policy safeguards across the device — even when partner services are involved.