One UI 8.5: Samsung Bixby becomes more conversational and gets real-time search
Samsung's Bixby voice assistant gets a major One UI 8.5 update, becoming more intuitive with real-time internet access.
Samsung is revamping its Bixby.
(Image: DANIEL CONSTANTE / Shutterstock.com)
Samsung is revamping its Bixby voice assistant with the upcoming update to One UI 8.5. In the beta version, the assistant can now also be tested in Germany on the Galaxy S25 and other devices before it is likely to premiere on the Galaxy S26. The update is intended to make interaction with Galaxy devices more intuitive through natural language. Furthermore, the assistant will gain access to current answers from the open internet. Interestingly, Samsung no longer mentions its partner Perplexity in its new announcement.
Bixby for device control in natural language
Samsung explains in its announcement that the refreshed Bixby assistant is intended to enable intuitive device control and "reduce friction in everyday tasks." According to the manufacturer, Bixby will be capable of controlling many processes on a Galaxy device in the future by users speaking to it in natural language. For example, it will be possible to change certain settings without knowing exactly how the corresponding system setting is named or where it can be found. This is not entirely new: Samsung had already announced something similar for the Galaxy S25 in conjunction with Gemini.
(Image: Samsung)
As an example, Samsung cites the following scenario: If a user says, "I don't want the screen to turn off while I'm still looking at it," Bixby understands the request and immediately activates the "Keep screen on while viewing" setting. The user no longer has to navigate through the settings or know the exact name of the function. This is not entirely new: Samsung had already announced something similar for the Galaxy S25 in conjunction with Gemini.
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Real-time search in Bixby
What is new, however, is that Bixby now also supports real-time search. According to Samsung, the assistant should access current information from the internet. The results then appear in Bixby's user interface. Samsung cites as an advantage that users can explore topics and get answers to questions without having to leave the Bixby interface. Thus, a separate browser or another app is not required.
(Image: Samsung)
For example, Galaxy users can say to Bixby: "Find hotels in Seoul that have swimming pools for children." Bixby processes the request and delivers relevant web search results directly in its user interface, allowing users to explore available options without interruption or delay, it says.
Samsung no longer names partners
What is interesting about Samsung's current announcement regarding the release of the feature in the One UI 8.5 Beta is that the service partner is no longer mentioned. In the initial version of the announcement from January 2026, which the manufacturer had since withdrawn, Samsung explicitly mentioned that it relies on Perplexity for real-time search – corresponding rumors have been circulating since June 2025. This small detail is now missing. Samsung does not provide reasons – Droid Life copied the press release at the time under its post. An insider close to Samsung confirmed to us that Samsung continues to rely on Perplexity.
Bixby now a bit like Siri
Samsung's Perplexity integration in Bixby, which is no longer officially confirmed, is reminiscent of the current functionality of Apple's Siri. Siri can perform simple tasks directly on the device itself. For more complex tasks requiring AI research, Siri gets help from ChatGPT – and soon Gemini.
Furthermore, Samsung is not the first company to integrate multiple AI assistants on its Android devices: In Motorola's current models, Perplexity's AI-powered search is directly integrated into the in-house Moto AI, and Microsoft's Copilot can also be accessed, with Gemini being the standard assistant – as is likely the case with Samsung. Samsung's Galaxy S26 will be unveiled on February 25.
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