Turns out, Google’s not just betting on Gemini AI—it’s paying for it to be seen. In a spicy courtroom moment, Google’s VP Peter Fitzgerald admitted that the company has been paying Samsung an “enormous sum of money” each month to pre-install Gemini AI on Galaxy phones. That’s been happening since January 2025.
And it’s not a one-time thing—this is a two-year deal. Google’s giving Samsung a cut of Gemini’s subscription revenue on top of those monthly payments.
DOJ’s Not Impressed: Monopoly Moves?
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) isn’t loving the vibe. DOJ lawyer David Dahlquist called the payment “enormous” and reminded the court that paying to be the default app is exactly what got Google in trouble for antitrust violations in the first place.
Judge Amit Mehta is already skeptical, saying Google’s past deals to be the default app on Samsung phones were a clear no-no under antitrust laws.
Receipts From the Past: $8B to Samsung, $20B to Apple
This isn’t Google’s first rodeo. Between 2020 and 2023, the company reportedly dropped $8 billion to make sure the Play Store, Google Assistant, and Search were front and center on Samsung phones.
Even more jaw-dropping: $20 billion went to Apple in 2022 just to stay the default search engine in Safari. Talk about buying your way to the top.
What Happens Next? Could Google Be Forced to Break Up?
If the DOJ wins this case, things could get wild. Google might be banned from making default-app deals altogether. Worse (for them), the DOJ could push to:
Force Google to sell off Chrome
Make them license out the data behind Google Search
That’s a major shakeup—and it could totally change how Android and the web work.
TL;DR: Google’s Paying to Win the AI Wars—and Might Pay the Price
Google is playing hardball to make Gemini AI the go-to assistant on Android, but the feds are watching. With billions at stake and a possible legal bombshell incoming, the future of your default apps might look very different soon.
