Bixby Gets a Boost with Perplexity AI
Samsung is breathing new life into its smart assistant, Bixby, by integrating it with Perplexity AI, a rival to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This move aims to enhance Bixby’s capabilities by enabling it to access real-time information from the web and provide more relevant, detailed responses. The integration is currently being tested as part of the One UI 8.5 beta update, which started rolling out in December.
According to a leak shared by user @achultra on X, Bixby has begun delivering responses powered by Perplexity AI, demonstrating practical advice such as weather updates based on current conditions. This marks a significant upgrade from previous versions of Bixby, which often lagged behind competitors in terms of responsiveness and usefulness.
Key Features and Improvements
The collaboration with Perplexity AI allows Bixby to execute more complex commands by leveraging a research-first approach that blends various large language models (LLMs) and web data. This integration is similar to how Apple has incorporated ChatGPT-like functionality into Siri, aiming to keep pace with the broader trend of AI-enhanced digital assistants.
Interestingly, Samsung has already been utilising Perplexity AI in other smart home devices, such as its connected refrigerators equipped with touchscreens. For Galaxy phone and tablet users in the US, Perplexity has offered free 12-month access via its own app, although this was previously separate from Bixby’s functionality.
Context and Samsung’s Strategy
Despite Bixby being overshadowed by rivals like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for years, Samsung remains committed to improving its assistant. The integration with Perplexity AI reflects a strategic choice to partner with an external AI provider rather than develop a complex solution entirely in-house.
One advantage Bixby holds over newer AI assistants such as Google’s Gemini is its deeper integration with Samsung’s system apps and settings. This allows users to control various system functions via voice commands, which is a significant benefit for those embedded in the Samsung ecosystem. Moreover, One UI offers flexibility by allowing users to select Gemini, Alexa, or other assistants as their primary voice assistant while still keeping Bixby accessible through a wake word.
What to Expect Next
While the One UI 8.5 beta is currently the testing ground for this upgraded Bixby experience, it remains unclear whether Samsung plans to make a major push for the assistant’s relaunch alongside the upcoming Galaxy S26 series. So far, there have been no official hints about a broader rollout, but ongoing developments will be closely monitored.
Samsung’s renewed focus on Bixby could signal a more competitive landscape for AI assistants on smartphones, especially as users increasingly expect intelligent, context-aware help. The integration with Perplexity AI is a promising step towards making Bixby a more relevant and powerful tool for Galaxy users.
For more details on this development, you can view the original leak shared by @achultra on X here.
As Samsung continues to refine Bixby, it will be interesting to see how this impacts user adoption and the broader AI assistant market in the months ahead.