According to HotHardware, Samsung is partnering with Google to deeply integrate Google Photos into its Tizen TV operating system, with a full rollout planned throughout 2026. The first feature, called “Memories,” will launch in March 2026 and will display curated stories based on people and locations. Later in the second half of 2026, “Create with AI” (powered by Google’s Nano Banana model) and “Personalized Results” for themed slideshows will become available. This integration will debut on Samsung’s 2026 TV lineup first, with other manufacturers likely getting similar access later. The goal is to make it easier for users to view and interact with their photo libraries on the big screen in their living room.
The big screen pivot
Here’s the thing: this move is less about groundbreaking tech and more about platform strategy. Samsung‘s been trying to make its Tizen OS for TVs more sticky for years, with mixed results. Adding Microsoft Copilot was one play for productivity. Now, with Google Photos, they’re going after personalization and nostalgia. It’s a smart, obvious move. Your TV is the biggest screen in your house, so why *wouldn’t* you want your photos there? But it’s also playing catch-up. Apple’s had seamless photo streaming to the Apple TV for ages, and Google’s own Chromecast has made casting photos trivial. This is about baking it directly into the OS so you don’t have to think about it.
AI features or AI gimmicks?
Now, let’s talk about those AI features. “Create with AI” and “Remix” sound fun. Turning a photo into a video or changing its art style could be a neat party trick. But I’m skeptical about how often people will actually use this on their TV. Editing and creating is usually a lean-forward, hands-on-keyboard activity. Your TV is a lean-back, relax-on-the-couch environment. Does the experience of generating a weird AI version of your vacation photo really translate to the living room? Or is it a feature you’ll try once to show your family and then never touch again? The “Memories” curation has more lasting potential—if it’s good. But that’s a big if. Automated curation often misses the mark, highlighting blurry or unimportant pics.
The real battle is for your data
And we can’t ignore the data angle. This partnership further entrenches Google Photos as the default cloud album for millions. Samsung phones already push you toward it. Now, your TV will, too. It’s a seamless ecosystem play that benefits Google as much as Samsung. For users, the convenience is real. But it also means more of your personal life—your family, your home, your vacations—is being parsed by algorithms to serve you content on a device that’s increasingly listening and watching. That personalized slideshow based on “beach” photos requires the service to understand the content of every single image you upload. It’s a trade-off we all make, but it’s worth remembering what’s powering that “convenience.”
Will anyone actually care?
So, is this a killer feature? Probably not. Most people are happy just casting their phone to the TV. But for Samsung, it’s another bullet point on the spec sheet, another reason to choose their TV over a competitor’s. It makes the TV feel more like a holistic smart home hub rather than just a video panel. The success hinges entirely on execution. If the integration is clunky or the AI feels like a tacked-on gimmick, it’ll be forgotten by 2027. But if it’s genuinely seamless and the curated memories are surprisingly good? It could become one of those background features that people quietly grow to love. We’ll have to wait until 2026 to see which way it goes.
