Bixby to get a major AI upgrade with One UI 8.5

"The screenshots show that Bixby leverages Perplexity AI for most of its tasks, suggesting the earlier rumors about Samsung partnering with Perplexity were accurate. But Bixby integration doesn't stop there. It will also work with The Weather Channel, HERE Maps, Skyscanner and Uber. The Bixby assistant can stay on top of other apps so you can interact with it at any time. You can like/dislike answers from Bixby, continue your conversation and follow the source by tapping on the Source button, which will lead you to Perplexity's website or app."

"Of course, the Bixby app remembers your conversations and does other tasks like turn off Bluetooth, turn on Dark Mode or perform other simple tasks on your handset. Uploading documents and discussing them in a predefined style is also an option. Interestingly, Samsung has worked on bringing its own version of some Google Gemini features. For instance, Circle To Ask is an alternative to Google's Circle to Search, while Bixby Live can seemingly do pretty much everything Gemini Live can."

"You can share your screen with Bixby Live and discuss the contents on it, or share your camera's viewfinder and talk about your surroundings. Even though the new Bixby and the features it might offer seem almost ready to be deployed with the upcoming One UI 8.5, there's no guarantee. Samsung might keep testing the upgraded Bixby internally a bit longer before bringing it to its users."

A rooted One UI 8.5 build reveals a redesigned Bixby that uses Perplexity AI for many tasks and integrates third-party services such as The Weather Channel, HERE Maps, Skyscanner, and Uber. The assistant can remain on top of other apps, accept likes/dislikes, continue conversations, and link to source material on Perplexity's website or app. Bixby stores conversation history, executes device actions like toggling Bluetooth and Dark Mode, and supports document uploads for styled discussion. Bixby Live and Circle To Ask mirror Google Gemini features, enabling screen and camera sharing for contextual interaction. Deployment timing remains unconfirmed as testing may continue.

Read at GSMArena.com