Samsung Unveils Updated Bixby With One UI 8.5

In the early hours of yesterday, Samsung Electronics revealed the beta program for Bixby’s most recent version, which has been updated to function as a conversational device agent. With the upgrade, customers can now ask for what they need using natural language, making it easier to communicate with Galaxy devices. It also increases the availability of current solutions via the public internet.

With the official release of the updated Bixby as part of the One UI 8.5 beta program, Samsung has transformed the assistant into a “conversational device agent” with real-time information and easier control.

Won-Joon Choi, Chief Operating Officer, Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics, stated, “We’ve been committed to making them easier to use so more people can benefit from AI, that’s why we decided to integrate a device agent directly into the experience since we introduced our first AI phone in 2024.” “We redesigned Bixby to facilitate more natural interactions and intuitive device control, lowering friction in daily tasks, in order to support this.”

Without the need for precise setting names or commands, Bixby enables users to operate and navigate Galaxy devices using natural language. Users can ask why anything is happening on their device or just explain what they want in their own words; they don’t need to memorise certain keywords or understand how gadget menus are organised. Bixby reduces the time and effort needed to handle commonplace device settings and functionalities by comprehending the intent and acting appropriately.

A user might say, “I don’t want the screen to time out while I’m still looking at it,” for instance. 

Without having customers travel through settings or know the precise name of the feature, Bixby recognises the request and instantly activates the “Keep Screen on While Viewing” setting.

Instead of providing general advice, Bixby may also determine the device’s existing settings and offer a number of potential fixes. Even if a person is not familiar with the gadget or its features, this helps them do work faster by reducing trial and error.

If someone queries, “Why is my phone screen always on when it’s inside my pocket?” Bixby will use the situation’s context to display pertinent options, such as Accidental Touch Protection, so they may activate it right away.

Real-time web search is another feature that Bixby offers. It can now access current and real-time data, and the results show up in Bixby’s own user interface. This implies that individuals can investigate subjects and receive responses as part of a single, smooth experience. Users can find what they need faster and maintain concentration on the work at hand without being taken to a different browser or app.

Bixby can now conduct live web searches and show the results right within its interface, doing away with the need to navigate to a browser thanks to its connection with Perplexity AI. Like contemporary AI chatbots, the user interface has been modified to display communication history as distinct conversations.

For example, customers might ask Bixby, “Find me hotels in Seoul that have kid-friendly swimming pools.” By processing the request and delivering pertinent web search results from within its interface, Bixby enables users to quickly and uninterruptedly explore their options.

Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK, and the U.S. are among the markets where the most recent Bixby upgrades are accessible in One UI 8.5. There are plans for a wider rollout in the future. Go to Samsung.com to learn more about Bixby.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 series and the full version are anticipated to make their debuts during the Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25, 2026.