One UI 8.5: The New Bixby Has Arrived

New Delhi, February 20, 2026: Samsung has officially entered the next phase of its AI evolution by introducing a completely reimagined Bixby as part of the One UI 8.5 update. This “reboot” transforms Bixby from a basic voice-command tool into a sophisticated, conversational “device agent” capable of complex reasoning and real-time web integration.

Originally teased and then officially announced in late February 2026, the new Bixby is designed to compete directly with modern AI assistants like Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s GPT-based tools.

A Natural Conversation: No More Memorizing Menus

The hallmark of the new Bixby in One UI 8.5 is its Natural Language Understanding (NLU). In previous versions, users often had to use specific, rigid phrases to trigger settings. Now, Bixby understands intent through casual, descriptive language.

• Contextual Control: Instead of finding a specific toggle, you can simply say, “I don’t want the screen to time out while I’m looking at it.” Bixby will automatically locate and enable the “Keep Screen On While Viewing” feature.
• Troubleshooting Assistance: If you ask, “Why is my phone screen always turning on in my pocket?” Bixby doesn’t just give you a link to a manual; it analyzes your current settings and suggests turning on Accidental Touch Protection right there in the chat interface.

Agentic Capabilities: From Answering to Acting

Samsung is positioning the new Bixby as an “agentic” assistant, meaning it doesn’t just provide information—it performs tasks.

• Multi-Step Execution: Bixby can now handle complex, multi-layered requests. For example, telling Bixby, “I’m going for a run; mute all notifications, turn on high brightness, and start my workout playlist,” will trigger a sequence of system-level changes across different apps and settings.
• System-Wide Integration: Because Bixby is deeply baked into One UI 8.5, it has a level of control over system toggles and deep-link settings that third-party assistants often lack.

Real-Time Web Intelligence (Powered by Perplexity)

One of the most significant upgrades is Bixby’s ability to search the live web without redirecting you to a browser.

• In-App Results: When you ask Bixby for real-time data—such as “Find me family-friendly hotels in Seoul with a pool”—the results are displayed directly within the Bixby overlay.
• AI Search Synergy: Reports indicate that this web capability is bolstered by an integration with Perplexity AI, providing sourced, cited, and conversational answers to general knowledge questions.

Availability and Rollout

The new Bixby is currently rolling out as part of the One UI 8.5 Beta program. It is expected to be the flagship software feature of the Galaxy S26 series, which launches officially on February 25, 2026.

With One UI 8.5, Samsung is making a clear statement: Bixby is no longer just an “extra” feature. It is being rebuilt to be the central, intelligent glue that holds the Galaxy ecosystem together, making the smartphone experience more personal and less menu-driven.