Samsung Plans Perplexity-Powered Bixby Upgrade for Galaxy S26, Shifting Away from Google Partnership

Samsung Is Reportedly Favoring Perplexity Over Gemini to Upgrade Bixby

Bixby is may soon get its big AI upgrade, and in a surprising turn, Samsung is choosing Perplexity over Gemini, according to leaker @chunvn8888. Perplexity integration for Bixby will work much like Apple's ChatGPT integration for Siri. The voice assistant will handle basic system tasks, such as tweaking phone settings or enabling features, while more complex queries will be sent to Perplexity, writes @chunvn8888, who has a decent track record with leaks. Bixby hasn't received any major upgrades in a while, even as other parts of Samsung's phones have gotten a significant AI boost through its partnership with Google's Gemini. Since the beginning of the partnership, Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked events have also had a major chunk reserved for Gemini-powered updates, but it looks like the relationship is starting to stagnate. Earlier this year, it was reported that Samsung was planning to drop Gemini as its default assistant and replace it with Perplexity. The company was also reportedly holding discussions with Perplexity AI about integrating the latter's search functionality into its native browser. Samsung itself confirmed an AI boost for Bixby last year, but it didn't reveal who it was partnering with or when the upgraded voice assistant would roll out. "With the emergence of generative AI and LLM technology, I believe that we have to redefine the role of the Bixby," Won-Joon Choi, Samsung Mobile's EVP and Head of Research and Development, said last year. He added that the company was "working hard" to integrate generative AI into Bixby. While the release timeline of the AI-powered Bixby wasn't confirmed by Choi, @chunvn8888 says it could be announced with the Samsung Galaxy S26 series, which is expected to come out early next year. If Bixby does get an AI boost, the features may not be limited to smartphones. The voice assistant also comes preloaded on Samsung's tablets, TVs, and refrigerators. The brand's TVs also got Copilot integration earlier this year.

Samsung could reimagine Bixby on Galaxy S26 with a Gemini rival

Bixby, Samsung's homespun virtual assistant, has always been overshadowed by more popular options such as Gemini, Siri, and Alexa. On Android devices under Samsung's Galaxy range, especially, Gemini takes precedence over Bibxy -- and Samsung doesn't oppose either. However, on other smart devices, such as Samsung TVs and talking refrigerators, Bixby is the default voice assistant. One of the reasons for Bixby's lack of popularity is the limited AI features compared to its rivals. However, that could be changing soon -- as soon as early 2026, when Bixby might receive a deeper intergreation of Perplexity's AI chatbot. According to leaker with the handle @chunvn8888 on X, Samsung is testing Perplexity's integration into Bixby on its smartphones and tablets. The feature, they say, is set to arrive with the launch of the Galaxy S26 series next year.

Samsung Galaxy S26 may debut a Perplexity-powered Bixby

Samsung was widely rumored to launch an AI-powered version of Bixby alongside the Galaxy S25 earlier this year. But that never happened. Likewise, the company reportedly signed an agreement to invest in Perplexity and integrate its AI assistant into Galaxy devices. Again, this never happened, with Galaxy users only getting a year of Perplexity Pro for free. Now, it seems Samsung will launch a Perplexity-powered version of Bixby that will debut on the Galaxy S26 next year. Leaker @chunvn8888 claims Samsung will integrate Perplexity into Bixby. The setup will reportedly work much like the ChatGPT and Siri pairing on the iPhone. Bixby will supposedly handle the basic tasks, while Perplexity will take over more complex, reasoning-heavy requests. The leaker believes Samsung will unveil this Perplexity-powered Bixby version alongside the Galaxy S26 at its next Unpacked event. Samsung already has a strong partnership with Google, heavily integrating Gemini into One UI. Over the last couple of years, flagship Galaxy devices have launched with many exclusive Gemini or Google-powered AI features. Circle to Search debuted on the Galaxy S24 in 2024 before gradually expanding to other devices by the end of the year. Similarly, the Galaxy S25 launched with several new Gemini features. Will Perplexity and Bixby integration make Google unhappy? It'll be interesting to see how Samsung's move to integrate Perplexity into Bixby impacts its relationship with Google. The company already offers an AI-powered version of its voice assistant with superior natural language processing, but it's limited to China. This is not the first time we have heard about Samsung integrating Perplexity into its devices. Bloomberg reported in June that the two companies were discussing bringing Perplexity's tech to Bixby. Perplexity stands out for its search capabilities, and Bixby could leverage that to offer a better experience. But for everything else, Gemini -- especially with the latest 3.0 model -- does a far better job. Still, if for some reason, you prefer Perplexity to Gemini, Galaxy S26 will give you the choice to move to it. The integration will also give Perplexity a major visibility boost, putting it into the spotlight with other big AI players.

Samsung Follows Apple's AI Strategy With Perplexity-Powered Bixby

While Apple is moving toward a multi-model AI strategy for Siri, Samsung appears to be following a similar path by integrating Perplexity's AI into its Bixby assistant for the upcoming Galaxy S26. According to the well-regarded tipster @chunvn8888 on X (Twitter), the arrangement would see Samsung's Bixby continuing to handle basic on-device requests such as toggling settings and activating system features, while Perplexity's models would take on queries that involve complex reasoning and generative tasks. Currently, Apple Intelligence blends on-device models for relatively simple tasks with OpenAI's ChatGPT for more complex reasoning and generation. A Samsung-Perplexity pairing would replicate this split. However, Samsung already maintains a deep AI partnership with Google, and newer Galaxy devices ship with Gemini-powered features embedded directly into its custom One UI interface. Choosing Perplexity suggests Samsung is widening its model pool rather than consolidating around Google's ecosystem. Meanwhile, Apple is preparing a broader expansion of its own multi-model strategy. A recent Bloomberg report claims the more capable version of Siri under development will rely on Google's Gemini for advanced tasks such as summarisation and multi-step planning, with Apple's own models continuing to power select features. The more advanced Siri was originally meant to arrive with iOS 18, but Apple is said to have recognized the need to rework the assistant's core architecture, which has pushed the release to a software update expected early next year. As a result of the update, Siri will be able to answer more complex queries and complete more complicated tasks in and between apps. It will be closer in function to Claude and ChatGPT, however Apple is not planning a dedicated chatbot app.

Samsung Galaxy S26 could bring a big upgrade for the forgotten Bixby assistant

A smarter, Perplexity-powered Bixby could finally give Samsung's phones an AI assistant worth using. What's happened? Samsung is reportedly preparing to give its voice assistant Bixby a major overhaul with the upcoming Galaxy S26 series. According to the X account @chunvn8888, the Korean tech giant will integrate Perplexity AI into Bixby. While Bixby will handle all basic user requests, the more complex ones will be passed to Perplexity AI. The leak corroborates previous reports about Samsung reducing its reliance on Google's Gemini. Why is this important? The improved Bixby, along with Perplexity AI, could debut with the Galaxy S26 series in early 2026. For those catching up, Bixby has long been overshadowed by other voice assistants, such as Gemini and, to some extent, Siri. The assistant has lagged in generative AI and conversational capability, and hence, upgrading it could revive user interest. The move mimics Apple's current strategy with Siri: handing off simple tasks to the in-house voice assistant and complex queries to ChatGPT. Recommended Videos Why should I care? If you already own a Galaxy S-series smartphone or you're planning to buy one, the update could mean a smarter assistant that better handles searches, insights, follow-up questions, and context. An improved Bixby could help users with voice-driven workflows, smart-home control, and information-heavy queries that require reasoning or multi-step actions. However, this could also mean that Samsung will place Bixby at the center of the conversational smartphone experience, possibly sidelining Gemini. OK, what's next? You should expect the official announcement about the improved Bixby (with Perplexity AI integration) at Samsung's first Galaxy Unpacked event of 2026. The upgraded Bixby could also trickle down to eligible devices with the One UI 8.5 update. This could mark the start of a more modular voice assistant architecture, wherein device tasks are handled locally, and more complex queries are offloaded to the cloud.

Perplexity AI Integration Could Finally Make Samsung Bixby Worth Using - Phandroid

Samsung's Bixby has never quite lived up to its potential. For years, users have either disabled the assistant entirely or simply tolerated it while preferring Google Assistant instead. However, that could change with the Galaxy S26 series in 2026. Samsung reportedly plans to integrate Perplexity AI into Bixby, finally giving the assistant the upgrade it desperately needs. According to reports, Samsung will adopt a two-tiered approach for the new Bixby on the Galaxy S26. Bixby's on-device capabilities will handle basic tasks like setting alarms, toggling device settings, or opening apps. Meanwhile, Perplexity's advanced AI models will power more complex queries through cloud processing. This includes web searches, reasoning-heavy tasks, and generative AI features. This strategy mirrors what Apple does with Siri and ChatGPT. It suggests a broader industry shift toward multi-model AI assistants. Rather than relying on a single AI provider, companies now build ecosystems where different AI services handle different types of tasks based on their strengths. Samsung's decision to partner with Perplexity makes sense given Bixby's troubled history. When Gemini became the default assistant on the Galaxy S25 earlier this year, Samsung clearly recognized Bixby's limitations. The Perplexity integration will debut at Samsung's Unpacked 2026 event alongside the Galaxy S26. Reports suggest a February announcement in San Francisco. Samsung isn't abandoning Google Gemini despite adding Perplexity to the mix. Instead, the company builds a multi-partner AI ecosystem where Bixby, Gemini, and Perplexity each handle different types of tasks. The timing aligns with Samsung's broader push to make the Galaxy S26 an AI-first smartphone. The S26 will feature next-gen AI capabilities and improved processing power from the Exynos 2600 chip. Whether this partnership can finally make Bixby worth using remains to be seen. However, it's certainly the most promising upgrade Samsung has announced for its struggling virtual assistant.

Samsung May Integrate Perplexity AI Into Bixby Ahead of Galaxy S26 Launch

Samsung appears to be preparing a major shift in its AI strategy as it looks to strengthen Bixby across its ecosystem. The company has steadily expanded its focus on artificial intelligence through Galaxy AI, smart home products and recent partnerships. New leaks suggest the company could bring a significant upgrade that could reshape how Bixby works on future Galaxy devices. With growing competition from Google's Gemini, the South Korean tech giant may bring more advanced intelligence to its own assistant. Samsung Galaxy S26 Could Offer a Bixby Assistant Powered by Perplexity AI According to an X post by tipster @chunvn8888, the company is testing a deeper integration of Perplexity AI, where Bixby would handle simple system tasks while Perplexity processes more complex or reasoning-heavy requests. Rival Apple has also taken a similar approach with its smartphones, offloading more difficult tasks to ChatGPT. This approach is expected to give Bixby the intelligence boost it has lacked compared to Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant. The upgraded assistant is expected to launch with the Galaxy S26 series in early 2026. The leak also claims Samsung chose Perplexity because of its investment in the company and its growing presence among Galaxy users. Perplexity recently offered a free 12-month subscription to US Galaxy owners, which may help familiarise customers ahead of deeper integration. Earlier reports from Bloomberg also suggested the two companies were exploring an exclusive partnership to give Bixby stronger web-enabled capabilities. Perplexity's recent launch of its Comet AI browser for Android further points to potential links with Samsung Internet and other native Galaxy apps. Meanwhile, Bixby has remained part of Samsung's ecosystem for years but has struggled to keep up with competing assistants. Despite incremental improvements, it has often been overshadowed by Google's solutions on Galaxy devices. If the new version of Bixby arrives alongside One UI 8.5, it may also roll out to existing Galaxy phones and tablets. Samsung has already confirmed Perplexity support on its smart TVs, suggesting a broader AI push across its product lineup. While still unconfirmed, multiple leaks point to the Galaxy S26 generation as the moment Bixby becomes significantly more capable.

Samsung Copies Apple's Playbook: Perplexity AI To Power Bixby

Apple gets panned fairly regularly for supposedly being behind the curve on AI. Yet, it is Apple's broader AI architecture that is now being replicated by Samsung with a tie-up between Perplexity AI and Bixby. If imitation is the highest form of flattery, Samsung just sang a literal paean in favor of its biggest competitor. As per a tidbit from a fairly respectable tipster, who goes by the username "Semi-retired-ing" on X, Samsung's bespoke voice assistant, Bixby, will leverage Perplexity AI's models to handle the more complicated AI tasks, akin to what Apple already does with its Siri. This AI-focused tie-up is set to debut with the upcoming launch of the Samsung Galaxy S26 series early next year. This approach suggests that Samsung is eschewing a foundational recalibration of Bixby, a task that would likely have been quite cost prohibitive. Instead, the South Korean giant is now borrowing a leaf out of Apple's playbook by integrating Perplexity AI's very capable models with its in-house Bixby. Do note that Perplexity already gives Galaxy owners in the US up to 12 months of free subscription to its premium tiers. Of course, the move might also represent a gambit on the part of Samsung to revive Bixby's fortunes on its smartphones, where Google's Gemini AI currently dominates. As per the evolving arrangement, Bixby is likely to handle relatively simple tasks such as setting up an alarm or tweaking an internal setting. The more complex tasks, however, which include image generation, among others, will likely be handled by Perplexity AI's models. Apple Intelligence currently leverages its on-device models for relatively simple tasks, while relying on OpenAI's ChatGPT for the more complex ones. Yet, the iPhone manufacturer is revamping this strategy in the next few months. We reported in early November that Apple is planning to use a gigantic, albeit tailored, Gemini AI model to power its upcoming revamped Siri. With 1.2 trillion parameters under its belt, the customized Gemini model would "dwarf" the 1.5 billion-parameter, bespoke AI model that Apple currently uses to power Siri in the cloud. The Cupertino giant already tested OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude LLMs before settling on a customized version of Google's Gemini to process the more complicated user requests that are to be offloaded to the cloud under Apple's Private Cloud Compute framework, where data is stripped of unique identifiers and anonymized to maintain user privacy. What's more, Apple will reportedly pay Google around $1 billion per year to use Google's proprietary AI technology, forming merely the latest tranche in the ongoing transactional relationship between the two tech giants. After all, Google already pays Apple $20 billion per year for ensuring default search engine privileges within the Safari browser and across other Apple services.

Samsung may revamp Bixby with Perplexity AI in Galaxy S26 for smarter, deeper answers: Here's what we know

A Samsung-Perplexity partnership seems closer than ever, potentially giving Galaxy users a more flexible and powerful assistant experience at the next Unpacked event. Samsung's upcoming flagship is shaping up to be more than just another yearly update, as the tech giant plans to bring major changes to its voice assistant. Many people use Bixby for basic tasks, but Samsung now seems ready to change how it works. Recent leaks say that a new Bixby could launch with the Samsung Galaxy S26 and offer better help with everyday questions. Samsung hasn't confirmed anything yet, but the leaks suggest the company wants to make Bixby more useful, quicker, and better at understanding what people need. If true, Galaxy users may get a smarter assistant that can answer more complex questions while still doing simple tasks, giving Samsung an advantage over its competitors. Samsung is expected to introduce the upgraded version of Bixby next year, and new reports indicate that the company may rely on Perplexity's AI system to boost the assistant's overall intelligence. Earlier rumours pointed to the Galaxy S25 as the planned launch device, especially after Samsung surprised Galaxy users by offering a free year of Perplexity Pro. Those plans did not materialise at the time, but the idea now appears to be returning in a more refined form with the upcoming Galaxy S26 series. Also read: ChatGPT can help you find best deals and personalised picks with new shopping research tool, here's how According to the latest leak, Samsung intends for Bixby to remain responsible for core on-device actions such as setting alarms, placing calls, managing reminders and adjusting phone settings. However, when users need richer or more detailed responses, the assistant may quietly hand the query over to Perplexity in the background. This setup reflects how some other smartphone ecosystems divide responsibilities by using one assistant for quick and simple tasks and another for deeper, information-driven queries. Samsung has explored the idea of a partnership with Perplexity before, although those discussions never resulted in anything public. Even so, the earlier move to provide Galaxy users with complimentary access to Perplexity Pro hinted that both companies were open to future collaboration. The latest leak suggests that this long-discussed cooperation could finally appear on consumer devices with the launch of the Galaxy S26. Also read: Google job listing hints at Aluminium OS, an AI-first Android platform for PCs Samsung already integrates several Google features and services across its phones, which has raised questions about how Perplexity might fit within the existing software framework. Analysts do not predict any immediate tension, but they note that adding another advanced AI assistant could introduce a new layer of competition inside Samsung's ecosystem. Perplexity is known for fast, concise, and well-sourced answers, and its integration could help Bixby deliver stronger and more informative responses to everyday queries. Some Galaxy users may still like Google's tools better, while others might be happy with a fresh alternative that complements instead of replaces Bixby. With the Galaxy S26, it looks like Samsung is ready to offer a more flexible assistant experience while giving Perplexity access to an incomparably wider audience. Also read: Anthropic introduces Claude Opus 4.5, its most capable model yet, that can beat Gemini 3 Pro in coding More details are expected at Samsung's next Unpacked event. If the rumours turn out to be accurate, Indian users and Galaxy fans around the world may soon have access to a more capable version of Bixby that handles both routine tasks and complex queries with greater ease.