Probably many have heard the name of Bixby, the voice assistant on Galaxy devices. For a long time, it seemed like Samsung ‘s homegrown assistant was destined to live in the shadow of Google’s Gemini. While Gemini took over the spotlight on Galaxy devices, Bixby felt like a secondary tool relegated to simple system commands. However, recent developments suggest that the company isn’t ready to retire its assistant just yet. Instead, Samsung is giving Bixby a significant AI-powered intelligence boost by integrating Perplexity’s AI search engine.
Samsung partners with Perplexity AI for a Bixby comeback against Gemini
Samsung TVs were the first to show signs of this partnership. Bixby started using Perplexity to handle difficult questions on these devices. That same technology is now quietly making its way to smartphones . People who are testing the One UI 8.5 beta on Galaxy S25 devices have seen a change in how Bixby handles data. Instead of giving simple answers, the assistant now gives answers that are more nuanced and take the situation into account.
For example, when a user asks about the weather, the new Perplexity-powered Bixby doesn’t just show the temperature. It analyzes the forecast to offer practical advice, like suggesting a jacket or an umbrella based on the probability of rain. This shift moves Bixby away from being a simple voice trigger and toward becoming a more capable research assistant.
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The strategy behind the partnership
Adding Perplexity could help Samsung fix the “intelligence gap” between Bixby and newer AI tools. Perplexity can do web-based research and complicated reasoning, which lets Bixby focus on what it does best: controlling the phone’s internal settings and system-level features. The external AI model, on the other hand, handles the hard parts of the questions.
This move also gives Samsung more independence. While the company maintains a close relationship with Google, having a secondary high-level AI partner ensures that Galaxy users aren’t entirely dependent on a single ecosystem. It’s a way for Samsung to keep its in-house assistant relevant while providing the “smarter” experience that modern smartphone users expect.
When can you try it?
Currently, this upgraded version of Bixby is tucked away in the One UI 8.5 beta, specifically for the Galaxy S25 series. The interface has also received a visual makeover, featuring a modern card-style overlay that fits the latest design trends.
The full rollout should happen at the same time as the Galaxy S26 series comes out in early 2026. The S26 models will probably be the first ones to come with these features. Samsung usually sends these software updates to older flagship devices soon after the new hardware comes out. If you’re still reluctant to use Bixby, this update might finally give you a reason to give it a try.
