Samsung Bixby Gains Conversational AI and Real-Time Web Search

SEOUL (Azat TV) – Samsung has significantly updated its Bixby virtual assistant, launching a new version within the One UI 8.5 beta that introduces advanced conversational capabilities and real-time web search. This overhaul aims to transform Bixby into a more intuitive and competitive ‘conversational agent’ for Galaxy users, allowing them to control their devices and access information using natural language, similar to how they would interact with modern chatbots.

The move comes as Samsung seeks to elevate Bixby’s standing against rival AI assistants like Google Gemini, which have often outpaced its capabilities. The updated Bixby is currently available in beta in select markets, including Samsung’s home country of Korea, alongside Germany, India, Poland, the UK, and the US, with a wider rollout anticipated in the future.

Natural Language Control Redefines Bixby Interaction

A cornerstone of the new Bixby is its enhanced ability to understand and respond to natural language commands, eliminating the need for users to remember precise technical phrases or menu paths. Samsung states that users can now simply describe their desired action, and Bixby will intelligently interpret the request and execute it.

For example, if a user expresses, “I don’t want the screen to time out while I’m still looking at it,” Bixby will automatically activate the “Keep Screen on While Viewing” setting. Similarly, if a user asks, “Why is my phone screen always on when it’s inside my pocket,” the assistant can diagnose the issue and suggest solutions, such as enabling “Accidental Touch Protection,” offering a direct option to toggle the setting within its interface. This intuitive device control is designed to reduce the time and effort typically required to manage device settings and features, according to reports from Engadget and PhoneArena.

Real-Time Web Search and Enhanced Information Access

Beyond device control, the updated Bixby now boasts real-time web search capabilities, allowing users to access current and up-to-date information directly through the assistant’s interface without needing to open a separate browser. This integration means users can perform queries like, “Find me hotels in Seoul that have swimming pools for kids,” and Bixby will display relevant web results within its own display.

This feature significantly broadens Bixby’s utility, moving it beyond a mere device controller to a comprehensive information retrieval tool. While Samsung had previously hinted at integrating AI capabilities through a now-deleted blog post that showcased Perplexity integration, the current demo for Bixby’s new features suggests a similar underlying technology for powering its responses, as noted by PhoneArena.

Global Rollout and Language Support

The beta phase marks an important step in Bixby’s evolution, with Samsung confirming plans to expand its availability to more regions and languages after the initial six markets. The assistant currently supports a wide array of languages and dialects, including English (UK, US, India), French (France), German (Germany), Italian (Italy), Japanese (Japan), Korean (South Korea), Mandarin Chinese (China), Spanish (Spain, Latin America), and Portuguese (Brazil).

Samsung expects to further increase the number of recognizable accents and dialects to improve performance across diverse user populations. This strategic expansion underscores Samsung’s commitment to making Bixby a globally competitive and user-friendly AI assistant across its vast ecosystem of Galaxy devices, aiming to close the gap with established market leaders.

The strategic enhancements to Bixby, particularly its move towards natural language understanding and integrated web search, signal Samsung’s determined effort to carve out a more significant role in the fiercely competitive virtual assistant market, leveraging its extensive device install base to gain traction.