Samsung accidentally revealed a major strategic shift for its voice assistant in a now-deleted press release. The company is planning to integrate Perplexity AI into Bixby with the upcoming One UI 8.5 update, transforming it into a true “conversational agent.”
Key features from the leak include
- Real-time Search: Bixby will use Perplexity’s engine to provide direct, cited answers and travel recommendations within the interface, rather than redirecting users to a web browser.
- Contextual Control: The assistant will understand user intent behind natural language. For example, complaining that the screen turns off while reading will prompt Bixby to adjust the screen timeout settings automatically.
This move signals that Samsung is not abandoning Bixby to Google Gemini but is instead reinforcing it with distinct AI capabilities. The full release is expected alongside the Galaxy S26, though Galaxy S25 users may see a beta version sooner.