Samsung's Bixby reboot brings conversational AI and device controls to One UI 8.5 beta

Samsung reveals Bixby reboot with device controls, AI, arrives in One UI 8.5 [Gallery]

After a false start back in January, Samsung has re-announced its Bixby reboot, which delivers more AI and will go live in One UI 8.5. Bixby has been in place on Samsung devices for years, but Google's services have generally been favored by users. With its "new" Bixby reboot, Samsung is delivering some big upgrades in functionality. That starts by building on what Bixby has always been best at - device controls. Samsung explains that the Bixby reboot will use natural language to let users control their devices "without the need for exact setting names or commands." Samsung says that users can simply explain what they want, with examples including: ...a user could say, "I don't want the screen to time out while I'm still looking at it." Bixby understands the request and immediately turns on the 'Keep Screen on While Viewing' setting -- without requiring them to navigate through settings or know the feature's exact name. If a user asks, "Why is my phone screen always on when it's inside my pocket?" Bixby will use the context of the situation and bring up relevant settings, such as Accidental Touch Protection, allowing them to turn it on directly. Beyond that, the Bixby reboot also delivers real-time results from the web. Samsung doesn't mention what this is powered by, but Perplexity has been mentioned on several occasions. Samsung says that the Bixby reboot is available on the Galaxy S25 series via the latest One UI 8.5 beta builds in "Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK and the U.S." That latest beta just landed in the US earlier today. One UI 8.5, based on Android 16, is expected to roll out to Galaxy users in the coming months after launching with the Galaxy S26 series, which is set to go official next week.

Samsung Introduces the New Bixby in One UI 8.5

Bixby becomes a more conversational device agent, providing Galaxy users with intuitive device control reducing the time and effort required to manage device settings Samsung Electronics today announced the beta program for its latest version of Bixby, upgraded to operate as a conversational device agent. The update makes interacting with Galaxy devices more intuitive, as users can simply ask for what they need through natural language. Additionally, it expands access to up-to-date answers from the open web. "Since we introduced our first AI phone in 2024, we've been committed to making them easier to use so more people can benefit from AI -- that's why we decided to integrate a device agent directly into the experience," said Won-Joon Choi, Chief Operating Officer, Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics. "To support this, we redesigned Bixby to enable more natural interactions and intuitive device control, reducing friction in everyday tasks." Bixby allows users to control and navigate Galaxy devices using natural language, without the need for exact setting names or commands. Users don't need to learn how device menus are structured or remember specific terms to get things done; they can simply describe what they want -- or ask why something is happening on their device -- in their own words. Bixby understands the intent and takes the appropriate action, reducing the time and effort required to manage everyday device settings and features. For example, a user could say, "I don't want the screen to time out while I'm still looking at it." Bixby understands the request and immediately turns on the 'Keep Screen on While Viewing' setting -- without requiring them to navigate through settings or know the feature's exact name. Rather than offering generic instructions, Bixby can also identify the current settings of the device and suggest various possible solutions. This reduces trial and error, helping people complete tasks more quickly, even when they are unfamiliar with the device or its features. If a user asks, "Why is my phone screen always on when it's inside my pocket?" Bixby will use the context of the situation and bring up relevant settings, such as Accidental Touch Protection, allowing them to turn it on directly. Bixby also supports real-time web search capabilities. Now it can access live and up-to-date information, with results appearing within Bixby's own user interface. This means people can explore topics and get answers to questions as part of one consistent and seamless experience. Without being redirected to a separate browser or app, users can find what they need more quickly and stay focused on the task at hand. For instance, users can say to Bixby, "Find me hotels in Seoul that have swimming pools for kids." Bixby processes the request and provides relevant web search results directly within its interface, allowing users to explore available options without interruption or delay. The latest Bixby updates is available in One UI 8.5 in select markets including Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK and the U.S., with plans for broader expansion to follow. For more information about Bixby, visit Samsung.com.

Samsung unveils conversational Bixby with real-time web search in One UI 8.5 beta

Users can control device settings using natural language without remembering exact feature names. Samsung has officially announced a new version of Bibxy, describing the voice assistant as a conversational AI agent. The updated assistant is now available to users enrolled in the One UI 8.5 Beta program, and it can perform more natural interactions and provide real-time web intelligence on supported Galaxy devices. The new Bixby, as per Samsung, works more like a chat-based AI system than a traditional command-driven assistant. Samsung's integration with Perplexity allows users to ask open-ended questions and receive real-time information from the Web. The result gets displayed directly on the Bixby interface, removing the extra step of navigating to a different browser or application. For example, a search for family-friendly hotels in Seoul will help you get results within the assistant itself. Samsung has also redesigned the interface to look like modern AI chat platforms, with conversation history displayed in a threaded format on the side panel. This will allow the users to revisit previous queries and continue discussions more seamlessly, similar to the experience provided by other gen AI tools. The company also claims that the assistant now uses natural language to control devices, along with doing web searches. The users can describe what they want without having to navigate menus or remember specific feature names. The assistant will understand a request to prevent the display from dimming while watching content and automatically activate the relevant setting. In a few markets, including India, Germany, Korea, Poland, the UK, and the US, beta users can now access the updated Bixby. In the upcoming months, Samsung intends to release One UI 8.5 more widely in tandem with its stable rollout.