Samsung has officially taken the wraps off a heavily revamped Bixby, injecting the virtual assistant with advanced AI capabilities and smarter device controls. The upgraded assistant is set to debut on One UI 8.5 in the near future.

While Bixby has been a fixture on Galaxy devices for years, users have largely favored Google's alternatives. With this major overhaul, Samsung aims to put Bixby back in the driver's seat by doubling down on its core strength: seamless, on-device control.

According to the tech giant, the new Bixby comprehends natural language, freeing users from the need to memorize rigid commands or dig through settings menus. You can now simply describe what you want in everyday conversation, and the system will understand the context and execute the right action.

For instance, say, "I don't want my screen to turn off while I'm looking at it," and Bixby will automatically enable the viewing feature—no manual tweaking required. Ask, "Why does my screen stay on in my pocket?" and the assistant will analyze the situation, suggesting the accidental touch protection feature with a convenient one-tap activation right from the prompt.

Beyond system controls, the revamped Bixby can pull real-time information from the web, signaling a major push into generative AI. While Samsung remains tight-lipped about the underlying engine powering this feature, industry whispers suggest Perplexity's technology might play a pivotal role.

The upgraded Bixby is currently being tested on the Galaxy S25 series via the One UI 8.5 Beta program in markets including Germany, India, South Korea, Poland, the UK, and the US. This beta rollout is expected to expand further ahead of a stable release.

Built on Android 16, One UI 8.5 is slated for a broader rollout following its debut alongside the highly anticipated Galaxy S26 series next week. The move marks a significant shift in Samsung's strategy, cementing AI at the very heart of the user experience.