Samsung is giving its virtual assistant, Bixby, a significant overhaul with a focus on natural language processing and expanded web access. The updated Bixby, rolling out as part of the One UI 8.5 beta program, aims to make interacting with Galaxy devices more intuitive, and efficient. The company initially previewed the changes last month, but faced a brief delay before re-announcing the rebooted assistant.
For years, Bixby has been a fixture on Samsung’s Galaxy devices, offering voice control and contextual awareness. However, it has often been overshadowed by more popular assistants like Google Assistant. This latest update represents a substantial effort to reposition Bixby as a more capable and user-friendly alternative. The core of the update lies in Bixby’s ability to understand and respond to natural language commands, moving away from the need for precise phrasing or memorization of specific settings names.
According to Samsung, the new Bixby allows users to simply describe what they want to achieve, and the assistant will interpret the intent and take the appropriate action. For example, a user can state, “I don’t want the screen to time out while I’m still looking at it,” and Bixby will automatically enable the ‘Keep Screen on While Viewing’ setting. Similarly, if a user asks, “Why is my phone screen always on when it’s inside my pocket?” Bixby will identify relevant settings, such as Accidental Touch Protection, and offer to adjust them.
This conversational approach is a key differentiator. Instead of navigating through layers of menus, users can interact with their devices in a more natural and fluid way. The update also expands Bixby’s access to information from the open web, allowing it to provide more up-to-date answers and context. While Samsung hasn’t explicitly named the technology powering this expanded web access, reports suggest integration with Perplexity, a conversational search engine.
The rollout of the updated Bixby is currently limited to beta testers on the Galaxy S25 series in several regions, including Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK, and the US. The latest beta update landed in the US on . Samsung plans to officially unveil One UI 8.5, and with it the new Bixby, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S26 series, scheduled for .
The timing of this release is strategic. Samsung is clearly aiming to showcase the capabilities of its revamped AI assistant alongside its flagship smartphone launch. One UI 8.5 is built on Android 16 and is expected to become widely available to Galaxy users in the coming months. This update isn’t just about improving Bixby; it’s about integrating AI more deeply into the overall Galaxy user experience.
The move to a more conversational interface reflects a broader trend in the industry. Google has been steadily enhancing its Assistant with similar features, and Apple is also investing heavily in AI and natural language processing. Samsung’s challenge will be to differentiate Bixby and convince users that it offers a compelling alternative to the established players. The focus on device control, combined with expanded web access, could be a key factor in achieving that goal.
While the beta program provides a glimpse of the future, the full potential of the new Bixby will only become clear once One UI 8.5 is released to the wider public. The success of this update will likely depend on how well Bixby performs in real-world scenarios and how effectively Samsung communicates its benefits to users. The company’s commitment to making AI more accessible and intuitive is evident in this latest release, and it will be interesting to see how it shapes the future of the Galaxy ecosystem.
