Samsung is doubling down on its virtual assistant, Bixby, as it prepares for a major update in the upcoming One UI 8.5. Although Samsung continues to promote Google’s Gemini on its latest Galaxy devices, the company hasn’t given up on Bixby. Instead, it’s enhancing the assistant with features designed to make it more conversational and contextually aware. The Bixby update is currently being tested through the One UI 8.5 beta program for the Galaxy S25 series, giving users a sneak peek of what’s to come.
Enhanced Conversational Experience
Samsung Bixby One UI 8.5,One of the most exciting improvements in Bixby’s upcoming update is its ability to understand context more effectively. For example, if you ask Bixby to keep the screen on while you’re still looking at it, the assistant will no longer show a list of instructions. Instead, it will directly change the “Screen on While Viewing” setting within the Settings app, streamlining your experience.
Another key improvement is how Bixby will handle specific queries, such as why the phone’s screen stays on while in a pocket. Bixby will use the context to surface relevant settings like Accidental Touch Protection, making the assistant feel more intuitive.
Integration with Perplexity for Real-Time Search
A notable feature coming to Bixby with One UI 8.5 is its integration with Perplexity. This new addition allows Bixby to pull real-time, live information from the web directly into the assistant’s interface, eliminating the need to open a browser or third-party app. This real-time web search feature will enhance Bixby’s capabilities, providing users with up-to-date answers and a seamless experience while staying within the Bixby UI.
Testing and Rollout
The new Bixby features will initially be available through the One UI 8.5 beta program, which is currently testing the fourth beta build for the Galaxy S25 series. Once testing is complete, the update will be rolled out publicly with the first stable release of One UI 8.5, likely debuting alongside the Galaxy S26 series in the coming weeks. Samsung plans a broader rollout after that.
Samsung’s focus on improving Bixby with One UI 8.5 reflects its commitment to delivering a more natural and intuitive virtual assistant experience. As the competition between Bixby and other assistants like Apple’s Gemini-powered Siri heats up in 2026, this update shows that Samsung is staying ahead with powerful features like real-time web search and enhanced task management. If the beta tests are successful, these upgrades could be a game-changer for Galaxy users.
