Samsung Bixby Reportedly Set for Major AI Overhaul with Perplexity Integration
Samsung is reportedly planning its most significant Bixby update in years. Leaked internal screenshots of One UI 8.5 reveal deep integration with Perplexity AI and a host of new multimodal features.
First shared by a developer on Reddit, the leaks confirm rumours of a Samsung-Perplexity partnership. The internal builds suggest a hybrid architecture where Bixby handles local system tasks, such as toggling Bluetooth or Dark Mode, while Perplexity manages complex reasoning and information retrieval.
The redesigned interface supports app overlays, allowing the assistant to function on top of other apps for continuous interaction. A key addition is the citation system; responses generated via Perplexity include direct citations and a “Source” button for instant verification.
The leaks also show context retention for follow-up questions, user feedback mechanisms, and document upload support for file analysis and summarisation
Beyond text and voice, Samsung is introducing two major AI features to rival market leaders:
- Circle To Ask: A direct alternative to Google’s “Circle to Search” for visual lookups.
- Bixby Live: Enables real-time screen or camera feed sharing to discuss visible content with the assistant.
The firmware indicates deep integration with several major third-party services beyond simple queries, including:
- The Weather Channel for forecasts
- HERE Maps for navigation
- Skyscanner for travel search
- Uber for ride bookings
While Samsung has not officially announced One UI 8.5, the advanced state of the leaked features suggests a debut alongside the next Galaxy S-series generation.
