Samsung reveals Bixby reboot with device controls, AI, arrives in One UI 8.5 [Gallery]

Source: 9to5Google

Samsung re‑announces Bixby reboot for One UI 8.5

After a false start back in January, Samsung has re‑announced its Bixby reboot, which delivers more AI and will go live in One UI 8.5. Bixby has been on Samsung devices for years, but Google’s services have generally been favored by users. With its “new” Bixby reboot, Samsung is delivering big upgrades in functionality, starting with what Bixby has always been best at – device controls.

Natural‑language device control

Samsung explains that the Bixby reboot will use natural language to let users control their devices “without the need for exact setting names or commands.” Users can simply explain what they want. Examples include:

• “…a user could say, ‘I don’t want the screen to time out while I’m still looking at it.’” Bixby understands the request and immediately turns on the Keep Screen on While Viewing setting – without requiring navigation through settings or knowing the feature’s exact name.
• “If a user asks, ‘Why is my phone screen always on when it’s inside my pocket?’” Bixby will use the context of the situation and bring up relevant settings, such as Accidental Touch Protection, allowing them to turn it on directly.

Real‑time web results

Beyond device controls, the Bixby reboot also delivers real‑time results from the web. Samsung hasn’t disclosed the underlying engine, but Perplexity has been mentioned on several occasions.

Availability

The Bixby reboot is available on the Galaxy S25 series via the latest One UI 8.5 beta builds in Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK, and the U.S. The latest beta just landed in the US earlier today.

One UI 8.5 rollout

One UI 8.5, based on Android 16, is expected to roll out to Galaxy users in the coming months after launching with the Galaxy S26 series, which is set to go official next week.