Samsung’s highly anticipated One UI 8.5 update is on the horizon, promising to bring a significant enhancement to a feature that has long been overlooked. The company’s Bixby digital assistant, which made its debut on the Galaxy S8 series back in 2017, is rumored to take center stage in the upcoming Galaxy S26 series.
According to reports from SamMobile, the revamped Bixby is set to integrate two powerful AI assistants: Perplexity from the US and DeepSeek from China, which gained widespread popularity in early 2025. This collaboration is expected to elevate the Bixby experience, offering capabilities such as web sourcing, audio and image generation, and the ability to upload photos, documents, and screen shares.
One of the standout features of the new Bixby is the real-time ‘Bixby Live’ mode, reminiscent of Gemini Live, along with ‘Circle to Ask’ which bears similarities to Circle to Search. These additions aim to provide users with a seamless and intuitive assistant experience.
The decision to revamp Bixby comes as no surprise, as the digital assistant has fallen behind competitors like Google Assistant and Alexa in recent years. With advancements in AI technology from platforms like Gemini and ChatGPT, Bixby was in need of a significant upgrade to stay relevant in the competitive AI landscape.
By partnering with Perplexity and DeepSeek, Samsung is positioning the new-look Bixby to deliver more accurate and comprehensive results, addressing the shortcomings of its previous iterations. The One UI 8.5 beta was released in December, with speculations suggesting that the final version will be rolled out alongside the Galaxy S26 series expected to launch on 25th February.
The integration of third-party services and advanced AI capabilities in the new Bixby signifies Samsung’s commitment to offering a cutting-edge digital assistant experience to its users. With the upcoming release of One UI 8.5, Samsung users can look forward to a more robust and intelligent Bixby assistant that caters to their needs seamlessly.
As the tech world eagerly awaits the official launch of the Galaxy S26 series and the accompanying One UI 8.5 update, it is clear that Samsung is gearing up to redefine the digital assistant landscape with a revitalized Bixby experience. Stay tuned for more updates on the latest developments and enhancements in Samsung’s AI ecosystem.
