Samsung Previews a Smarter Bixby Powered by Perplexity AI
Samsung is testing a revamped version of Bixby that integrates Perplexity AI, signaling that the assistant is not being sidelined in favor of Gemini after all. An early preview shows Bixby delivering more detailed, context-aware answers by tapping into Perplexity's search capabilities.
The preview surfaced via a screenshot shared on X, revealing a redesigned Bixby overlay responding to a weather query. Instead of a basic forecast, Bixby adds practical recommendations, such as suggesting a jacket, indicating deeper reasoning based on real-time information rather than static responses.
This functionality is currently limited to the One UI 8.5 beta and requires Bixby version 4.0.50.4. At the moment, access appears restricted to Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra devices enrolled in the beta. Samsung already uses Perplexity AI on its smart TVs, and this looks like the first step toward bringing similar search depth to Galaxy phones.
For users, the change means Bixby can handle more complex questions with fresher data, narrowing the gap with other AI assistants. The update also aligns Bixby's visuals with newer One UI design guidelines, making the assistant feel more integrated into the system rather than an afterthought.
Samsung has confirmed that One UI 8.5 will debut alongside the Galaxy S26, with a wider rollout to older Galaxy devices afterward. Until then, the Perplexity-powered Bixby remains a preview feature for beta testers, with broader availability expected once One UI 8.5 exits testing.
Ewww Perplexity has data hoarding issues.
From TechCrunch, quoting the CEO:
“CEO Aravind Srinivas said this week on the TBPN podcast that one reason Perplexity is building its own browser is to collect data on everything users do outside of its own app. This so it can sell premium ads.
“That’s kind of one of the other reasons we wanted to build a browser, is we want to get data even outside the app to better understand you,” Srinivas said. “Because some of the prompts that people do in these AIs is purely work-related. It’s not like that’s personal.”
And work-related queries won’t help the AI company build an accurate-enough dossier.
“On the other hand, what are the things you’re buying; which hotels are you going [to]; which restaurants are you going to; what are you spending time browsing, tells us so much more about you,” he explained.
Srinivas believes that Perplexity’s browser users will be fine with such tracking because the ads should be more relevant to them.
“We plan to use all the context to build a better user profile and, maybe you know, through our discover feed we could show some ads there,” he said.”
There is no AI that doesn’t hoard data. As soon as you start using them, you’ve signed off your privacy. So using them while providing as little information as possible is the best.