Samsung has announced a new beta version of Bixby, updating its voice assistant into what it describes as a conversational “device agent.” The update is part of One UI 8.5 and is rolling out in select markets including India, the US, the UK, Germany, Korea, and Poland. The company had already been positioning Bixby as a more central part of its AI strategy. With this update, that becomes more visible. Instead of relying on fixed commands or menu navigation, users can now describe what they want in natural language, and Bixby interprets the intent and takes action.
Bixby shifts from commands to intent-based control
The updated Bixby focuses on understanding context rather than exact phrasing. Users no longer need to know specific setting names. A request like “keep my screen on while I’m looking at it” will trigger the correct setting automatically, without requiring manual navigation. It can also respond to questions about device behaviour. For example, if a user asks why their screen stays on in their pocket, Bixby can surface relevant settings like accidental touch protection and allow them to enable it directly.
This reflects a change in how Bixby operates. Jisun Park, Corporate Executive Vice President and Head of Language AI Team at Samsung’s Mobile eXperience Business, says the assistant has been redesigned to go beyond preset commands. “Bixby has evolved into a more powerful device agent, going beyond a traditional assistant,” Park says, adding that it can now “deeply understand device status and capabilities to provide more relevant responses.” Park also notes that the system is now built to interpret intent more flexibly. “We transformed individual functions into callable agents… allowing the system to combine multiple functions and APIs to complete tasks more meaningfully,” he says.
Real-time web answers and a wider role for Bixby
Bixby now also supports real-time web search through Perplexity, allowing it to pull in up-to-date information directly within its interface. Users can ask for things like hotel recommendations or general queries, and results appear inside Bixby without switching to a browser. This expands Bixby’s role beyond device control. Samsung is positioning it as a single entry point for both on-device actions and external information. “Simply speaking is enough to get things done,” Park says, describing the shift away from app and menu-based interactions.
The company is also working to extend Bixby across more devices. Through integration with SmartThings, users can control connected home appliances using natural language, even when they are away from home. The beta is currently available in select markets, with a broader rollout expected after testing.
