Samsung revamps Bixby with conversational features in One UI 8.5

Samsung has released an updated version of its Bixby voice assistant, aiming to make it more natural and easier to use. The new version is available in the One UI 8.5 beta. It focuses on turning Bixby into what the company calls a “conversational agent”, bringing it closer to the style of modern chat-based assistants.

Bixby has long been overshadowed by rivals such as Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri, but Samsung appears keen to reposition its assistant as a practical tool for everyday tasks. The latest changes focus on natural language understanding, contextual responses, and direct access to online information without opening separate apps.

Bixby moves towards natural conversation

The updated Bixby is designed to respond more like a human assistant, allowing users to speak naturally rather than relying on specific commands or phrases. Samsung says users can now describe what they want in plain language, rather than remembering technical settings or exact command structures.

For example, a user can say, “I don’t want the screen to time out while I’m still looking at it,” and Bixby will automatically enable the relevant display setting. This approach aims to reduce friction for people who may not know where certain options are located in the phone’s menus or what they are officially called.

The assistant is also intended to provide more contextual help when users ask questions about device behaviour. If someone asks, “Why is my phone screen always on when it’s inside my pocket?” Bixby can suggest multiple possible explanations and offer solutions that the user can choose from. This feature could help users troubleshoot common issues without having to search online forums or support pages.

Built-in web search without opening a browser

Another major update is the assistant’s ability to pull information from the web directly within its interface. Instead of opening a web browser, users can ask Bixby to search for information, with results displayed inside the assistant’s own window.

Samsung says this feature is designed to make information retrieval faster and more seamless. By keeping users within the assistant interface, the company hopes to reduce the need to switch between apps, which can interrupt workflows and slow down everyday tasks.

This move also reflects a broader trend in the tech industry, where voice assistants and chat-based tools are increasingly expected to act as gateways to the internet. By integrating web search into Bixby, Samsung is positioning its assistant as both a device controller and an information hub.

Limited availability with wider rollout planned

At launch, the updated Bixby is available only in a limited number of regions, including South Korea, Germany, India, Poland, the UK and the US. Samsung has confirmed that it plans to expand availability to more markets in the future, although it has not provided a timeline for the wider rollout.

The regional rollout suggests Samsung is testing the new features in key markets before making them globally available. This phased approach is common for major software updates, allowing companies to gather feedback and refine features before broader deployment.

The update comes as competition in the digital assistant space intensifies, with companies investing heavily in artificial intelligence and conversational interfaces. By enhancing Bixby’s natural language capabilities and adding web search, Samsung is signalling its intent to keep pace with rivals and make its assistant more relevant to everyday smartphone users.