A year ago, with the launch of One UI 7, Samsung replaced the Smart Select tool with an AI-powered alternative called AI Select. Now, with the new Galaxy S26 series running One UI 8.5, Samsung is making AI Select much easier to access.

One UI 8.5 on the latest Galaxy S26 lineup introduces a new shortcut that lets you launch AI Select faster than before. Instead of opening the Edge panel and tapping the shortcut, you can simply press and hold the Edge pull tab. AI Select launches almost instantly, shaving off a step and making the interaction feel more direct.

The traditional method of launching AI Select through the Edge panel remains available in One UI 8.5. However, this new press-and-hold gesture works in a way that feels similar to Circle to Search. Only this time, rather than pressing and holding the navigation gesture bar at the bottom of the screen, you hold the Edge pull tab on the side.

That is to say the new gesture aligns with existing ones in One UI and feels like it follows a cohesive UI design vision.

Arguably, this new gesture also makes AI Select quicker and more convenient to use one-handed, particularly if you position the Edge pull tab lower on the display. It reduces friction and turns AI Select into something that feels more like a native system action rather than a tucked-away utility.

This is not Samsung’s first attempt at making AI Select easier to reach. Nearly a year ago, the company updated the One Hand Operation+ module within Good Lock to allow users to assign AI Select to a gesture. That solution worked well, but it required customization and an additional app.

Now, this other, arguably simpler gesture, is baked directly into One UI 8.5, making AI Select more accessible out of the box. It is reasonable to expect that this shortcut will roll out to other eligible Galaxy smartphones and tablets once they receive the One UI 8.5 update.

As for the AI Select tool itself, nothing has changed in terms of functionality. Once activated, you can tap or draw around anything on the screen to reveal contextual actions such as translation, Drawing Assist, Generative Edit, GIF creation, and more — depending on which contextual actions are supported by the Galaxy phone.

If you are considering trying One UI 8.5 ahead of a wider rollout, the Galaxy S26 series is available for pre-order until March 11, with early buyers receiving a range of exclusive perks.