Samsung's Bixby Is Getting Smarter With Perplexity AI

Samsung is preparing a major update to its Bixby voice assistant that integrates it with Perplexity AI's search engine. The company recently published, then pulled, an announcement for the update's beta. The post revealed plans to turn Bixby into a more capable AI agent that can compete with modern models such as Gemini. The update is expected to ship as part of One UI 8.5.

Bixby currently draws frequent criticism for its limited capabilities and weak integration with other services, especially compared with Google Assistant or Siri. Samsung apparently wants to change that by making Bixby more useful and intuitive. The Perplexity AI integration is a strategic move meant to help Bixby handle complex queries and deliver more accurate, relevant answers.

According to the leaked information, the updated Bixby will not only answer questions but also actively control smartphone settings. You could simply say, "Bixby, turn on dark mode" or "Bixby, lower the screen brightness to 50%." That would make using the phone much simpler and more convenient, especially for people who don't want to waste time digging through menus for the right setting.

Picking Perplexity AI as a partner is also an interesting choice. Perplexity AI is an AI-powered search engine that specializes in giving direct answers to questions rather than just links to web pages. That means Bixby will be able to give users faster, more accurate answers based on analysis of large amounts of information. Unlike traditional search engines, Perplexity AI can synthesize information from multiple sources and present it as a short, clear answer.

The Bixby update carries significant implications for the voice assistant market. If Samsung successfully integrates Perplexity AI and expands Bixby's functionality, it could become serious competition for Google Assistant and Siri. Users may start switching to Bixby if it offers a more convenient and capable experience. It could also push other companies to build their own AI assistants with expanded capabilities.

Overall, the Bixby update is an important step in Samsung's AI development. The Perplexity AI integration and expanded phone controls could make Bixby more appealing to users and create serious competition in the voice assistant market. It will be interesting to see how this update shapes the future of how people interact with technology.