TL; DR
- Leaks suggest Samsung is preparing a major Bixby upgrade in One UI 8.5 with Perplexity AI handling complex queries.
- The revamped Bixby will bring multimodal features like live screen and camera sharing, document uploads, and app overlays.
- Samsung has not confirmed a release timeline, but the update is likely tied to future Galaxy devices, maybe the Galaxy S26 series.
Samsung appears to be planning its biggest update to Samsung Bixby in years. Leaked screenshots from internal One UI 8.5 builds show a redesigned Bixby that relies heavily on Perplexity AI for advanced queries.
The leaks, first shared by a developer on Reddit, confirm earlier reports of a Samsung-Perplexity partnership. In the new setup, Bixby continues to handle basic system tasks locally, such as toggling Bluetooth, enabling Dark Mode, and navigating settings, while Perplexity is used for more complex information retrieval and reasoning. Responses shown in the leaked build include citations and a Source button, allowing users to explore referenced material further.
The updated Bixby interface supports app overlays, letting the assistant appear on top of other apps for continuous interaction. Users can rate responses with like or dislike feedback and maintain context across follow-up questions. Another addition is support for document uploads, where users can ask Bixby to analyze files or respond in specific formats.
Samsung is also expanding Bixby’s integrations with third-party services. Leaks show connections with The Weather Channel for forecasts, HERE Maps for navigation, Skyscanner for travel searches, and Uber for ride bookings. Alongside these, Samsung is introducing its own AI features. “Circle To Ask” appears to be an alternative to Google’s Circle to Search, while “Bixby Live” enables real-time sharing of the screen or camera feed to discuss what is currently visible.
These live and multimodal features closely resemble capabilities seen in assistants like Google Gemini. While the leaked firmware indicates the features are well along in development, Samsung has not officially announced One UI 8.5 or detailed when the upgraded Bixby will roll out. Current expectations point to a debut alongside future Galaxy devices, possibly the next S-series generation.
It’ll also be interesting to see how Samsung positions this new Bixby, since Google Gemini is already a thing on Galaxy phones, and can do pretty much everything this new Bixby can. What are your thoughts on the revamped Bixby? Let us know the comments section below.
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