Galaxy S26 will be all about software, not hardware: Bixby is already getting smarter with Perplexity AI

Bixby is about to get smarter with help from a third-party AI project – and that process might've begun already.

We're all waiting for this

The shift isn't dramatic at the moment, but some users already report that the Bixby assistant on their Galaxy phones is using Perplexity about the weather forecast:

Devoted Samsung fans know that a major update for Bixby (and a closer tie to Perplexity AI) in the upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup is expected.

Yes, it's true that many users use every occasion they get to trash Apple's underperforming Siri assistant, but Samsung's Bixby, while ahead in the game, is far from perfect, too. What's more, Galaxy phones in the last two years have relied on Google's Gemini AI project, while Bixby kind of missed the action.

Soon, however, Galaxy users would choose between multiple AI systems, including Google's Gemini, Samsung's proprietary, in-house developed generative AI models, and Perplexity, giving them more flexibility.

The goal is to make Bixby useful again by handling basic commands, while Perplexity would take care of complex searches and reasoning tasks. It mirrors Apple's strategy of integrating ChatGPT with Siri. If successful, the Perplexity collaboration could mark Bixby's return as Samsung's main assistant and strengthen the company's broader AI ecosystem.

Second One UI 8.5 Beta is out

Are you also enjoying the Bixby–Perplexity collaboration? If not, maybe you haven't enrolled in the One UI beta program yet.

Some days ago, we reported that Samsung has released the first update for the One UI 8.5 Beta on the Galaxy S25 series.

This update focuses mainly on bug fixes rather than new features. It applies to the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra, with a download size of just over 1.1 GB.

Key improvements include enabling dual recording and Single Take mode through the Camera Assistant, fixing quick panel initialization and icon spacing issues, and correcting problems with photo organization in gallery folders. The update also addresses stuttering in the More View menu during calls, occasional rebooting, and volume or sound issues under certain conditions, including Bluetooth car kit use.

Additional fixes improve stability when using multiple third-party apps and enhance overall system performance. One UI 8.5 Beta is based on Android 16 and includes the December 2025 security patch.

Samsung initially limited the One UI 8.5 beta to six countries, including South Korea, Germany, the US, and the UK, but with the latest update, Galaxy S25 users in Poland and India can finally access it, too.

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