Samsung has announced a major update to its digital assistant Bixby, thereby confirming its continued support for this platform, despite adopting Google Gemini as the default assistant for Galaxy phones last year.
In a press statement, the company clarified that the updated version will soon enter the beta testing phase within the new One UI 8.5 update, which has been under development since December 2025. Expectations indicate that the renewed Bixby system will debut in conjunction with the launch of the Galaxy S26 series, expected in February 2026.
This announcement comes a year after Samsung’s partnership with Google in launching the Galaxy S25 phone in January 2025, where Gemini became the default assistant on Galaxy phones, making Bixby’s role secondary at that time.
However, the company revealed a redesign of the assistant to become a “conversational device agent,” primarily focusing on controlling phone settings and understanding user requests in natural language.
Regarding the features of the new version, Samsung stated that users will no longer need to memorize the exact names of settings, as Bixby will be able to understand the purposes through a simple description in the user’s language and automatically change the relevant settings.
The assistant will also check the device’s current settings and suggest solutions, instead of just providing general instructions.
Samsung also announced that the new Bixby will support direct web search through a partnership with Perplexity.
This partnership will allow for bringing updated information from the web and displaying the results within its own interface, instead of directing users to external browsers.
Samsung concluded its statement by emphasizing that these updates aim to make Bixby more useful for general questions, not just for device control. (Eram News)
