Samsung's Bixby voice assistant gets Perplexity AI upgrade to rival Gemini on Galaxy phones

Bixby is preparing for a comeback as a worthy Gemini competitor on your Galaxy phone

These upgrades allow Bixby to access real-time information from the web and offer more relevant and detailed responses. Even after years of being outclassed by other rivals, Samsung refuses to give up on its smart assistant, Bixby. Now that all smart assistants are being upgraded with AI, Samsung has similar expectations for Bixby, too. But, instead of developing a solution in-house, the tech giant is parterning with an OpenAI rival to execute complex commands given to Bixby, in the similar fashion as Apple has intergrated ChatGPT into Siri. Samsung has seemingly begun experimenting with Bixby powered by Perplexity AI, a ChatGPT rival that takes a research-first approach, accessing the web and blending other LLMs for responses. This integration was first mentioned last month by a leaker and now appears to be taking form. Based on a screenshot shared by user @achultra on X (via SammyGuru), Bixby appears to be delivering some responses powered by Perplexity. The change, the tipster notes, is rolling out as part of the One UI 8.5 beta that Samsung rolled out earlier in December. However, given the lack of interest in Bixby, it appears to have flown under the radar. As per the screenshot, Bixby can be seen offering practical advice based on the actual weather conditions. Before phones, Samsung has already integrated Perplexity into Bixby running on other smart home appliances, such as its connected refrigerators with touch screens. On phones and tablets, specifically, Perplexity has been offering free 12-months access to Galaxy users in the US, though it has been restricted to using the chatbot through its own app. Improving Bixby also gives Samsung an advantage over Gemini, since its own assistant enjoys greater control over the system, allowing users to control system apps or dig deep into system settings using their voice. Even for users who do not want to use Bixby, One UI facilitates using Gemini or alternatives such as Alexa as the primary assistant, while also letting them access Bixby by using a wake word. While Samsung is testing the renewed Bixby with One UI 8.5 beta, we're unsure if it plans a bigger push with the upcoming launch of the Galaxy S26 series. It hasn't dropped hints so far, but we'll ensure notifying you if something changes on that front.

Samsung's supercharged Bixby with Perplexity AI gets an early preview

Chethan is a reporter at Android Police, focusing on the weekend news coverage for the site. He has covered tech for over a decade with multiple publications, including the likes of Times Internet, Guiding Tech, and Android Headlines, to name a few. Chethan's love for Android dates back to the days of the Samsung/Google Nexus S, with his first Android phone being the HTC Desire HD back in 2010. Away from work, he's on the lookout for live cricket streams or NBA highlights. He also enjoys the occasional hour or two of console/mobile gaming whenever time permits. The release of the Galaxy S25 earlier this year sparked uncertainty about Samsung's Bixby assistant. The speculation intensified as the phone continued to pick up Gemini upgrades, while Bixby lost a key feature from its toolkit. However, subsequent evidence indicated that Samsung may not nerf its in-house AI assistant after all. Separately, reports earlier this year mentioned a potential integration of the AI search engine Perplexity into Galaxy phones. Then, just over a month ago, we learned that Samsung intends to bring Perplexity's search smarts to Bixby, starting with the Galaxy S26 lineup. A fresh revelation over the weekend offers more evidence of this integration. Close A screenshot shared by user achultra on X has revealed what this Perplexity-powered Bixby will look like. As shown above, a revamped Bixby overlay appears for a weather-related query. This overlay provides detailed recommendations, such as suggesting the user carry a jacket, by tapping into Perplexity's search engine smarts. There's more to come, but we'll have to wait Updated Bixby overlay spotted in October This is only one part of the integration we're seeing here, though it goes without saying that Bixby's upgraded capabilities will be on full display during the Galaxy S26 release in February. SammyGuru notes that this functionality is currently restricted to Samsung Bixby version 4.0.50.4 and requires devices running One UI 8.5, which is currently available in beta exclusively for the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Samsung already offers Perplexity's AI search engine on its TVs, and it seems like the One UI 8.5 beta also unlocked this capability on Galaxy phones. This should pave the way for richer, more up-to-date results from Bixby on your Galaxy smartphone, while also enhancing the assistant's ability to answer more complex questions. It is expected that Galaxy S26 owners will get a first taste of this integration outside the One UI 8.5 beta testers. Only then will this integration be rolled out to older Galaxy devices (including the Galaxy S25), alongside the One UI 8.5 update. Get the newsletter for Samsung Bixby insights Subscribe to the newsletter for concise, expert coverage of Samsung's Bixby and AI integrations, software changes, and product evolution -- clear analysis and context that help you understand what matters next in these developments. Subscribe Get the newsletter for Samsung Bixby insights Subscribe to the newsletter for concise, expert coverage of Samsung's Bixby and AI integrations, software changes, and product evolution -- clear analysis and context that help you understand what matters next in these developments. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. In addition to this inclusion, the Bixby pop-up is also prepping a visual upgrade, in line with current design guidelines. Of course, One UI 8.5 is not just about the visuals and Bixby upgrades, as it is also expected to introduce additional features and fixes to Galaxy devices, including in the camera department. Samsung has already confirmed that One UI 8.5 will debut with the Galaxy S26 and make its way to older devices shortly after. A detailed timeline, along with the list of eligible devices, may be provided during the Galaxy S26 launch event in February.

Samsung's Bixby reboot shows up early with Perplexity in tow

Samsung hasn't been particularly quiet about its coming Perplexity partnership, and now we're getting a first look at the Bixby reboot powered by the AI service. Rumors have been swirling for a while now around Samsung working with Perplexity to bolster its mostly-forgotten Bixby voice assistant. While Samsung continues a tight partnership with Google over Gemini, the company confirmed earlier this year that it would offer AI features beyond Gemini in the future. Last we'd heard, Samsung was working with Perplexity to hand off everything but the "basic" Bixby interactions off to the AI assistant and that the functionality would arrive on the Galaxy S26 series next year. Now, though, we're getting an early look. As noted by SammyGuru, one user on Twitter/X found that the Perplexity-enhanced Bixby was live on their device through an app update. Bixby version 4.0.50.4 seemingly enables the feature on One UI 8.5's beta, but that version hasn't been made widely available yet. In a screenshot provided, we can see Bixby responding to a weather query, recommending wearing a jacket, detailing wind chill, and adding in further information about the day's forecasted conditions. Assuming the original question was something like "should I wear a jacket today," the current Bixby simply doesn't respond at all. In a standard weather query, it also just doesn't provide nearly as much information.

Bixby on Galaxy phones may soon rival Gemini with smarter answers

Samsung is testing a Perplexity-powered upgrade for its voice assistant. Google's Gemini may have sidelined Bixby on recent Galaxy smartphones, but Samsung hasn't given up on its voice assistant yet. Instead, the company appears to have partnered with Perplexity to level up Bixby's responses and offer users a more capable alternative to Gemini. We first caught wind of this partnership in July, when a report suggested that Samsung was exploring collaborations with companies like Perplexity and OpenAI to bring more AI features to Galaxy phones. At the time, a Samsung executive confirmed the company's plans but did not share details on how such partnerships would benefit end users. Recommended Videos However, a more recent leak suggested that Samsung planned to bring Perplexity's capabilities to Bixby with the Galaxy S26 series, helping it answer more complex queries. While the company has yet to make anything official, it has reportedly started testing the integration in the latest One UI 8.5 beta for the Galaxy S25 series. According to recent posts from X user Ach, Samsung has given Bixby a visual overhaul in One UI 8.5 and the voice assistant can now rely on Perplexity's smarts to answer complicated questions. Screenshots showcasing the change clearly show Perplexity listed as the source at the bottom of Bixby responses. Bixby is gearing up for a comeback The Perplexity integration appears to be live for beta testers in Europe running version 4.0.50.4 of the Bixby app, but it's not widely available yet. Samsung is expected to debut the change alongside the Galaxy S26 series early next year, and it will likely reach older devices with the One UI 8.5 update. If the integration rolls out as expected, it could mark a meaningful comeback for Bixby after years of playing second fiddle to Google Assistant and Gemini on Galaxy smartphones. Tapping into Perplexity's AI models would allow Samsung to keep Bixby relevant on its devices, while giving users another capable alternative to Gemini.

Samsung Bixby gains Perplexity AI search powers in new update

Samsung's Bixby assistant will integrate Perplexity's AI search capabilities, with an early preview emerging on social media. Speculation surrounding Bixby's future escalated earlier this year following the Galaxy S25 release, which saw increased Gemini upgrades and the removal of a Bixby feature. However, subsequent information indicated Samsung would not diminish its in-house AI assistant. Reports surfaced earlier this year regarding potential Perplexity AI search engine integration into Galaxy phones, with Samsung confirming plans to bring Perplexity's search intelligence to Bixby, beginning with the Galaxy S26 lineup. A screenshot, posted on X in French, detailed the Perplexity integration within Bixby, showing a redesigned Bixby overlay for a weather query. This overlay provided recommendations, such as suggesting the user carry a jacket, by leveraging Perplexity's search engine. SammyGuru noted this functionality is currently limited to Samsung Bixby version 4.0.50.4 and requires devices running One UI 8.5, available in beta exclusively for the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra. Samsung already offers Perplexity's AI search engine on its televisions. The One UI 8.5 beta has extended this capability to Galaxy phones, aiming to provide richer, more current results from Bixby and enhance the assistant's ability to answer complex questions. Galaxy S26 owners are expected to experience this integration first, with a subsequent rollout to older Galaxy devices, including the Galaxy S25, alongside the One UI 8.5 update. The Bixby pop-up is also preparing a visual upgrade to align with current design guidelines. In addition to Bixby enhancements, One UI 8.5 is expected to introduce further features and fixes, including camera improvements, to Galaxy devices. Samsung has confirmed that One UI 8.5 will debut with the Galaxy S26 and arrive on older devices shortly thereafter. A detailed timeline and a list of eligible devices may be provided during the Galaxy S26 launch event in February.

Samsung Might Have Silently Integrated Perplexity With Bixby Assistant

* Samsung appears to be testing this in Galaxy S25 handsets * The feature is said to be part of the One UI 8.5 beta update * Samsung has also released a Perplexity app for its smart TVs Samsung might have silently integrated Perplexity's artificial intelligence (AI) platform with its Bixby assistant. Several users posted on social media platforms that when asking the voice assistant a complex query, it now refers the question to Perplexity's answer engine, and shows a small icon of the brand at the bottom. This new capability is said to have been spotted within Galaxy S25 series smartphones with the One UI 8.5 beta update. This is interesting, given that an older report claimed that the integration would be rolled out with the Samsung Galaxy S26 series next year. Samsung Pairs Up Bixby and Perplexity to Tackle Complex Queries In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), user @achultra (first spotted by SamMobile) shared a screenshot saying, "Now Bixby can ask Perplexity to answer complicated questions." In the screenshot, the Perplexity icon is visible at the bottom, followed by "sources," indicating users can also check the sources from the web used for generating the response. However, it does not seem that the capability is rolling out to all users at present. The same user highlighted that the capability was spotted while using a Samsung Galaxy S25 phone with the One UI 8.5 beta OS. Last month, a report had claimed that the South Korean tech giant was planning to release the feature with the Galaxy S26 series, and since the global stable version of One UI 8.5 is rumoured to be released with the new smartphones, the company is likely testing the integration ahead of release. It is not possible to say how deep Bixby's integration with Perplexity runs. The tipped capability is similar to how Apple's Siri uses ChatGPT to answer more complex questions. But whether Bixby users will be able to tap into more advanced features, such as Deep research, Labs, or choosing the model, is not clear. It is also not known if those with a Pro or Max subscription will be able to link their accounts. The Samsung-Perplexity partnership has been in the news since the first half of the year. Several reports have previously claimed that the two companies were looking to enter a multi-faceted deal where the AI startup would be integrated into Samsung's voice assistant in some capacity. Notably, in October, Samsung also introduced a standalone Perplexity app for its smart TVs.

Samsung tests Perplexity AI integration for Bixby ahead of Galaxy S26 launch

It remains unclear whether the upgraded assistant will be officially announced during the Galaxy S26 launch. Samsung is reportedly gearing up to launch its next flagship smartphone lineup, the Galaxy S26 series. Alongside new hardware, the company also appears to be preparing a major upgrade for its smart assistant, Bixby. According to the latest report, the tech giant has started testing Bixby powered by Perplexity, a growing rival to OpenAI's ChatGPT. This strategy is similar to Apple's move to integrate ChatGPT into Siri. The first signs of this new Bixby experience appeared last month through leaks, and now it seems the integration is slowly rolling out. A user on X (@achultra) shared a screenshot showing Bixby delivering answers powered by Perplexity AI, reports SammyGuru. This integration is likely part of the One UI 8.5 beta update that Samsung released earlier in December. Perplexity is known for its research-focused approach, as it can browse the web and combine responses from different large language models to give more useful answers. Also read: GTA 6 set to launch in Nov 2026 and here are 5 interesting facts that you may not know Well, Samsung is not new to working with Perplexity. The company has already integrated the AI into Bixby on some smart home appliances, such as connected refrigerators with large touch screens, reports Android Authority. Upgrading Bixby could give Samsung an edge over Google's Gemini assistant. Since Bixby is deeply built into One UI, it can control system apps and settings more easily through voice commands. Also read: Google Pixel 10a price, launch timeline, camera, battery and all other leaks For now, it remains unclear whether the improved assistant will be officially announced during the Galaxy S26 launch.