Samsung has introduced a significantly upgraded version of its voice assistant Bixby as part of the upcoming One UI 8.5 software, according to Swedish technology reports. The announcement comes ahead of the Galaxy S26 series launch scheduled for next Wednesday.
The new Bixby is described by Samsung as a 'conversational device agent' designed to make Galaxy devices more intuitive. Users will reportedly be able to control their devices using natural language instead of specific voice commands, similar to other modern digital assistants like Gemini.
Key features include the ability to navigate and control Galaxy devices through ordinary speech, troubleshooting assistance for device issues, and real-time web search support through Perplexity, though Samsung has not officially named the search partner. Search results will display directly within Bixby's interface.
According to reports, the initial rollout will be limited to Germany, Poland, South Korea, the United Kingdom, India, and the United States. Sweden is notably absent from the first wave, with availability expected to expand gradually. The new Bixby version is being distributed through a beta program for One UI 8.5 in select markets.