[Interview] ‘When Foldables Meet AI’ — Behind the Scenes of One UI 8’s Development

Launched last month alongside Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7, One UI 8 delivers an entirely new mobile experience born from the synergy of foldable design and AI. Notably, this release marks the first time a device has shipped with Android 16 out of the box, an achievement that was made possible through close collaboration with Google. This means Galaxy users enjoy faster access to the latest generation of Android, along with the more refined experience it brings in tandem with One UI 8.

To hear the story of how One UI 8 came together, Samsung Newsroom sat down with three of the leading minds behind the new user interface: Mihyun Jeong and Joonhwan Kim, who were in charge of development, and Nawoong Han who coordinated collaboration with Google — all from Samsung Electronics’ Mobile eXperience (MX) Business.

▲  (From left) Nawoong Han, Framework Development Team; Mihyun Jeong, Experience Planning Team; and Joonhwan Kim, UX Team of Samsung Electronics’ MX Business

A Personalized Daily Experience, Powered by AI and Foldables

One UI 8 takes Galaxy’s distinctive foldable form factor to the next level, delivering an even more powerful AI experience. Jeong, who was in charge of One UI planning, noted that as AI technology rapidly advances, user expectations are also rising — making One UI both more complex and more important. “To address this, Samsung’s customer experience (CX), user experience (UX) and development teams formed a task force that focused on defining the core concepts and enhancing the overall quality of One UI 8,” she said. “As a result, these core concepts were summed up as ‘multimodal AI, a form factor–optimized UX and a proactive personalized experience.”

Kim, who was in charge of One UI design for foldables, highlighted the design concept for One UI 8 — “When Foldables Meet AI” — as the convergence of form factors and AI innovation. “From the FlexWindow of Galaxy Z Flip7 to the expansive main display of Galaxy Z Fold7, users can now experience Galaxy’s evolution into AI phones across multiple form factors,” he explained.

AI Innovation on the FlexWindow

With One UI 8, Galaxy Z Flip7 lets users access AI features quickly and effortlessly, even without unfolding the device. A simple press of the side key launches Gemini Live, and its FlexWindow-optimized UX enables natural, conversational interactions with AI, as if chatting with a friend.

“You can, for example, view what’s shown on the camera and speak with AI in real time, or add events directly to your calendar. Everyday tasks become quick and effortless,” Jeong added.

▲  Mihyun Jeong from the MX Business demonstrates how One UI 8 enables easy access to AI functions on Galaxy Z Flip7’s FlexWindow.

The expanded FlexWindow on Galaxy Z Flip7 also makes it easy to check real-time sports scores, news, app updates and more through Now Bar. Plus, Now Brief delivers richer, more personalized information and insights, all available at a glance from the Flex Window.

Innovating Multitasking on a Large Screen

Galaxy Z Fold7’s large main display brings out the full potential of One UI 8. “On the big screen, you can display Galaxy AI-generated results in Split view or in Floating view, and freely resize or move them for highly efficient multitasking,” explained Kim.

Powered by multimodal AI that understands complex contexts, Screen sharing on Gemini Live enables users to share their current screen with AI in real time, even while running multiple apps, and instantly ask questions.

Galaxy AI’s Photo Assist also takes full advantage of the expansive screen. By placing the original and edited versions of an image side by side, users can compare every detail with precision for more refined image editing.

▲  Joonhwan Kim from the MX Business demonstrates how One UI 8 enables efficient multitasking on Galaxy Z Fold7.

Perfected Through Close Collaboration With Google

At the foundation of One UI 8’s refined AI experience is a special partnership with Google. “Both companies worked together from the very beginning, defining concepts during the early planning stage and collaborating throughout the process to bring the latest features to One UI 8,” explained Han, who managed joint efforts with the Android team at Google.

▲  Nawoong Han from the MX Business explains the collaboration process with the Android team at Google.

The way the two teams worked together was also unprecedented. “We collaborated with Google in real time, using a shared development branch that allowed us to exchange code around the clock and fix bugs on the fly,” said Han. Thanks to this close collaboration at the engineering level, Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 became the first devices to feature Android 16 out of the box.

▲  With One UI 8, Gemini can be activated directly from Galaxy Z Flip7’s FlexWindow without unfolding the device.

Also, a product of our cohesive teamwork is bringing a more multimodal Google Gemini Live experience to the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 — this means you can ask Gemini anything about what you see. Sharing your camera or screen in Gemini Live conversations allows for more natural and helpful interactions in the moment. This technological synergy ensures Samsung apps were connected to the multimodal experience.

The development of Samsung DeX for One UI 8 is a prime example of the deep partnership between the two companies. Originally developed by Samsung, through close collaboration with Google, we were able to evolve DeX to address key user issues and also introduce desktop windowing to the core Android platform. From the underlying structure to detailed user scenarios, Samsung contributed its expertise built over years of operating DeX to the joint expansion effort. This new desktop windowing experience gives app developers a consistent experience and will accelerate productivity on Android devices.

“I traveled between Korea and the UK several times for workshops with Google. We’d gather in front of a whiteboard, sketching out screen transition flows and discussing even the smallest details,” recalled Han.

“We spent so much time together that our teamwork became rock solid. We made matching team hoodies and later grew close enough to even ask about each other’s pets,” he added with a smile. For users, the result of this tight bond was a more powerful and productive Samsung DeX.

Emotion-Embracing Design, Backed by Strong Security

One UI 8 places as much emphasis on thoughtful design as it does on powerful AI features. “In addition to the weather app, which received particularly positive feedback during beta testing, we enhanced animations and visual effects across other everyday apps to create a more immersive experience,” said Kim.

“In One UI 8, the clock can recognize the subject in a chosen wallpaper and organically align itself with its outline. This feature is not only available on the main display but also on Galaxy Z Flip7’s FlexWindow,” he added, introducing it as an element that brings a sense of liveliness to One UI 8’s design.

Jeong added that beyond AI, One UI 8 also brings a host of enhancements designed to maximize everyday convenience. She highlighted features such as a more streamlined Quick Share for easier content sharing; Audio Eraser, which reduces unwanted background noise in videos and audio recordings at the touch of a button; and four new pet profiles added to the Portrait Studio in Photo Assist.

▲  Mihyun Jeong (left) and Joonhwan Kim (right) explain the development process behind One UI 8.

Security, now more critical than ever in the AI era, has also been reinforced. One UI 8 utilizes a new security solution, Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection (KEEP), and Knox Vault to protect personalized AI features and further safeguard user data by blocking unauthorized access.

“We fully understand the security concerns users may have in the AI era,” said Jeong. “That’s why we’ve built powerful threat-blocking mechanisms into the device, while also providing and continuously upgrading a range of security tools that users can easily use and manage by themselves.”New Everyday Life With One UI 8

One UI 8 marks the beginning of a new user experience born from the fusion of foldables and AI.

“These are completely new foldable experiences — unlike anything before. Through One UI, we will naturally connect users with AI to deliver even more effective automation and personalization,” said Jeong, expressing confidence in the advancements One UI 8 brings.

“From bar-type phones to foldables and tablets, we hope our form factor–optimized AI experiences will bring even greater value and enjoyment to users’ daily lives,” Kim added.

Looking ahead, Samsung’s collaboration with Google is set to deepen further. “The more advanced the technology becomes, the more important collaboration will be,” noted Han. “We aim to broaden our partnership with Google across all areas of Galaxy, especially in AI — so stay tuned.”

One UI 8 will begin rolling out to other devices in September, starting with the Galaxy S25 series. By taking the synergy between AI and Samsung’s foldable form factors to new heights, the new user interface promises to open up new possibilities for everyday life.