Samsung is preparing a major change of direction for its voice assistant. With the arrival of One UI 8.5Bixby is leaving behind its image as an underutilized tool to try to become an intelligent layer capable of understand what the user wants to do with the mobile phone and run it without having to wade through endless menus.
The Korean company is taking advantage of this update to its Android layer to relaunch Bixby as a device-centric conversational agentBut with a key new feature: the assistant incorporates access to real-time updated information thanks to integration with Perplexity, an AI-based search engine that will handle complex queries without needing to open a browser.
In One UI 8.5, Samsung's idea is that you can talk to your phone like you would to another person.Without memorizing function names or artificial commands, the assistant will interpret your intention, review the current system state, and propose or apply the necessary changes so that the device behaves as you request.
Bixby as a mobile agent: fewer menus and more intent
The main shift lies in the role Bixby will play within the Galaxy ecosystem: it goes from being a simple receiver of rigid commands to a Device agent capable of understanding context, hardware status, and user needsIts function will be to translate natural language requests into specific settings within One UI.
Instead of remembering the exact name of each option, the user will be able to make requests such as "I don't want the screen to turn off while I'm looking at it" and Bixby will locate the keep screen on setting and activate it for you.The important thing is not that it opens the menu, but that it understands what result you are looking for and minimizes trial and error in Settings.
The same approach applies to problematic situations. If you comment that The screen stays on in the pocket or accidental touches are madeThe system will be able to suggest activating protection against unintentional touches because it recognizes the scenario, instead of just showing generic help.
This approach makes Bixby a kind of "conversational shortcut" for managing your phone when you're in a hurry: quick adjustments, minor configurations, and simple diagnostics which would normally require tracking down hidden options in several layers of menus.
Samsung describes this change as a Redesigned assistant to allow for more natural interactions and more intuitive device controlBehind this lies the previous experience with Galaxy AI and the realization that, if people perceive the interface as convoluted, they end up using only some of the functions out of sheer laziness.
Integrated Perplexity: real-time answers without leaving Bixby
The other major piece of the renewal is the alliance with Perplexity AIwhich provides the layer of external knowledge. While Bixby handles what happens inside the phone, Perplexity will take care of the queries that require real-time web access, from current information to more complex multi-step searches.
Samsung's approach involves The answers are displayed directly in the Bixby interface.without launching the browser or forcing the user to switch to another app. So, if you ask "find the best burger restaurants near my house" or "find cafes to work in my city," the system will return elaborate results, with links and references, but all within the assistant itself.
This changes the usual mobile dynamic: instead of opening Chrome or any other browser, loading several tabs and getting distracted by other pages, You can quickly resolve the doubt and continue exactly where you were.The assistant becomes a kind of one-stop shop for informational tasks without breaking the flow.
The company is confident that the combination between natural language understanding for device control y Perplexity as an intelligent search engine Let Bixby stop being a dispensable add-on and become a truly useful tool in everyday life, both for practical tasks and for specific queries.
Internally, this strategy means Samsung is relying on a specialized partner for the generative AI and semantic search aspects, a move similar to that of other manufacturers who are delegating the heaviest part of artificial intelligence to external services to accelerate their roadmap.
A more conversational and less robotic assistant
Another key aspect of the new version is the improvement in the natural language understandingThe goal is to move away from the feeling of talking to a robot to which you have to dictate short phrases, with forced pauses and artificial structures, and get closer to a normal conversation.
Samsung wants you to be able to make a request in your own words, even if the sentence isn't perfectly structured, and for Bixby to understand the main intention. There will be no need to recite the specific name of the adjustment Nor should you follow command templates: simply explain what problem you have or what you would like the phone to do.
This orientation towards everyday language also opens the door to somewhat longer interactions with contextInstead of a single isolated command, the assistant will be able to chain steps, take into account the previous state of the device, and offer related options if it detects that you may need something additional.
In practice, this translates into Bixby could adjust and check various system parameters sequentially when it comes to solving a specific problem, such as strange screen or sound behavior, without the user having to blindly try each menu.
The company acknowledges, however, that actual performance will depend on factors such as pronunciation, ambient noise, or the configured languageIn quiet environments with a good connection, the experience should be smoother than on the street or in places with a lot of background noise.
Beta, availability and the role of the Galaxy S26
As for the schedule, the new iteration of Bixby is launching in conjunction with One UI 8.5, who will officially debut with the next family Galaxy S26The first to try the revamped assistant will be the users who participate in the beta versions of the layerwhere Samsung is already gradually activating these options.
According to the information that has been leaked and the brand's own statements that were published and withdrawn within minutes, Bixby's AI features are starting to appear in the advanced betas of One UI 8.5The company reportedly even mentioned the fourth beta as one of the milestones in this testing phase.
The final version of One UI 8.5 will first be rolled out in the Galaxy S26These models are expected by the end of February, with stores arriving in March. In the Spanish market and other European countries, these models will mark the official launch of the new Bixby, with a starting price for the S26 that, according to leaked estimates, will be around [price missing]. 959 Euros in its basic version.
Once the new flagship has been unveiled, Samsung's intention is to Bring the revamped Bixby to other compatible Galaxy devices via software update. However, the company has not yet detailed the final list of models or the exact rollout dates in each region.
As usual, there will be fine print: to use all the assistant's capabilities, it will be necessary Sign in with a Samsung account, have a data connection and accept specific permissions, especially those related to location when it comes to queries that depend on where you are.
Privacy, user control, and coexistence with Gemini
Bixby's renewal comes in a context where Samsung is also promoting Gemini, Google's assistant, in its latest phonesDespite this commitment, the company has decided to revive and strengthen its own assistant, combining deep device control with the intelligent search layer provided by Perplexity.
This strategy paints a picture in which A Galaxy user will be able to switch between various assistants depending on their needs.Gemini as a more generalist solution connected to the Google ecosystem, and Bixby as a quick gateway to hardware, One UI settings and certain integrated web queries.
Regarding privacy, Samsung indicates that when a response requires use sensitive location or contextual dataExplicit consent will be requested the first time. This information will be used to generate the corresponding response and will be processed in accordance with the retention and deletion policies announced for this service.
Perplexity's reliance on real-time search also implies that Part of the processing will be done on external servers, while the recognition of device-related commands will rely on both local and cloud capabilities, depending on the type of request.
This balance between local and cloud functions will be key to a responsive experience without excessively compromising data consumption or device battery life, especially in models sold in Europe where Regulations on privacy and data processing are stricter.
Overall, Bixby's new phase with One UI 8.5 aims to shed its reputation as an irrelevant assistant and become a more practical and straightforward tool. If the implementation lives up to expectations and the rollout in Spain and the rest of Europe proceeds smoothly, many users may go from ignoring the button or Bixby gesture to see it as A useful shortcut to control your mobile phone and resolve quick queries without wasting time.
