Samsung One UI 8.5 to Add AI Notification Summaries and New Gestures

Samsung is steadily pushing AI deeper into its ecosystem, and the upcoming One UI 8.5 update looks set to mark another leap. Expected to roll out alongside the Galaxy S26 series in January, leaked builds already reveal several intriguing additions. Chief among them is an AI-powered notification summary system designed to help users cut through the daily flood of alerts.

Instead of scrolling through countless pop-ups, the AI will condense information into a more digestible snapshot, promising to save time for anyone juggling multiple apps and conversations at once.

In its current leaked state, the feature isn’t functional yet, but the interface is already visible. A prompt in the notification shade introduces the option, allowing users to activate it directly or head into Settings for more customization. Samsung plans to let users exclude specific apps from summaries, though the leaked build shows all apps locked in by default. This is likely to change before the official release, as Samsung fine-tunes the system.

Interestingly, One UI 8.5 also integrates another long-requested tool: the ability to double tap the back of your phone to trigger shortcuts or launch apps. This feature was previously limited to Samsung’s Good Lock customization suite but will now become a native part of the interface, making it more accessible to casual users who never dabbled with extra mods.

While some users are excited about the potential productivity boost – especially professionals swamped with notifications – others see it as yet another example of AI being added everywhere, sometimes unnecessarily. Critics argue it risks becoming more of a marketing checkbox than a true innovation, drawing parallels with how telemetry features were rebranded as user enhancements in past software. Still, whether dismissed as gimmick or embraced as helpful, there’s no denying One UI 8.5 is shaping up to be one of Samsung’s most AI-driven updates yet.