- Google AI Scam Detection is currently a Pixel exclusive
- Hidden code suggests it’s heading to the Samsung Galaxy S26
- Samsung’s next flagships are expected to launch next month
It looks as though one of the features that Google has so far kept as an exclusive for its own Pixel phones could be making its way to one of the best Samsung phones of 2026: the Galaxy S26 series is rumored to be getting the AI-powered Scam Detection alerts that warn users about scams in real time.
The Android Authority team has found code hidden away in the latest version of the Google Phone app that mentions some new smartphone model numbers – numbers that match up with the Galaxy S26, the Galaxy S26 Plus, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
These model numbers appear alongside references to various Pixel phones, and “Sharpie”, which is the internal codename Google uses for Scam Detection. Join the dots and it seems as though the feature will be appearing on the Samsung Galaxy S26 series when these phones launch (probably next month).
Nothing is certain yet though, and there is one problem to note: Samsung phones have their own Samsung Phone app installed by default, rather than the Google one. It’s possible that the Google version will be the default one going forward, or that the Samsung equivalent will itself adopt the Scam Detection tech.
Stay safe
Scam Detection is one of those features that shows just how useful AI can be: it looks for patterns that match up with known scams, and warns you if someone might be trying to trick you. It works across phone calls and text messages, with everything running on your phone and nothing sent back to Google.
Once you enable Scam Detection (it’s actually off by default), it’ll monitor calls and text messages with people who aren’t already saved in your contacts list – so you won’t suddenly find that one of your parents is labeled a scam threat.
The feature is available on the Google Pixel 6 and later in the US, and on the Pixel 9 and later (excluding the Google Pixel 9a) in Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, and the UK. In the case of the most recent handsets, the Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 series of phones, the functionality is powered by the Gemini Nano model.
Google doesn’t promise a 100% success rate with Scam Detection, but it just might prevent you from being tricked out of some money or personal data. This adds to the long list of rumors and leaks that have appeared for the Galaxy S26 so far – and we’ve rated all the major ones in terms of how likely we think they are to be accurate.
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