Samsung Announces New Bixby with Perplexity Integration

Samsung has officially unveiled the new Bixby, a major overhaul of its virtual assistant that will debut alongside the Galaxy S26 series. The updated Bixby focuses on more natural conversations and deeper, context-aware device control, while a new Perplexity integration adds real-time web search directly inside the assistant. Samsung plans to begin testing the new experience with an upcoming One UI 8.5 beta update for the Galaxy S25 lineup, ahead of its public release with the next-generation flagships.

Bixby becomes a conversational device agent

This update transforms Bixby into a conversational device agent that understands natural language, controls Galaxy devices more intuitively, and pulls real-time answers from the open web. According to Samsung, the new Bixby will reduce friction in everyday phone usage by letting users talk naturally, instead of memorizing exact setting names or commands. In practice, this means the AI assistant now focuses on intent, not keywords.

With the new update, users can describe what they want in plain language, and Bixby figures out the rest. For example:

• Saying “I don’t want the screen to time out while I’m still looking at it” prompts Bixby to automatically enable Keep Screen On While Viewing, without the user digging through menus. Of course, you don’t have to say the exact phrase, but something along those lines.
• Similarly, asking “Why is my phone screen always on when it’s inside my pocket?” allows Bixby to analyze the situation and suggest relevant settings, such as Accidental Touch Protection, with direct toggles.

Instead of offering generic how-to instructions, Bixby checks the current state of the device and recommends practical fixes. This is especially useful for users unfamiliar with deeper system settings.

Real-time web answers powered by Perplexity

Another major addition is live web search inside Bixby. Samsung confirmed that Bixby now integrates with Perplexity, enabling access to up-to-date information from the open web. Search results appear directly within Bixby’s interface, so users don’t need to jump to a browser or another app.

You could ask Bixby to “Find me hotels in Seoul that have swimming pools for kids,” and it will surface relevant listings inside the app, keeping the experience seamless and uninterrupted. This positions Bixby closer to a task-focused AI agent, rather than just a system assistant.

“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,” said Won-Joon Choi, Chief Operating Officer at Samsung’s smartphone division. “That’s why we decided to integrate a device agent directly into the experience. To support this, we redesigned Bixby to enable more natural interactions and intuitive device control, reducing friction in everyday tasks.”

Samsung says the new Bixby experience will arrive with the One UI 8.5 update. One UI 8.5 is already available in beta for the Galaxy S25 series in select markets. Beta users may receive the new version with the fourth beta build, expected this week. Or maybe the Bixby update will arrive separately; we shall find out soon.