Andy Walker / Android Authority
TL;DR Samsung’s own virtual assistant Bixby may soon be powered by an AI chatbot.
Samsung is rumored to have partnered with Perplexity, a Google DeepMind and OpenAI rival, for new Bixby capabilities.
These features would be available to Samsung users starting with the Galaxy S26.
Bixby, Samsung’s homespun virtual assistant, has always been overshadowed by more popular options such as Gemini, Siri, and Alexa. On other smart devices, such as Samsung TVs and talking refrigerators, Bixby is the default voice assistant. However, on Android devices under Samsung’s Galaxy range, Gemini takes precedence over Bibxy, and Samsung doesn’t oppose either.
One of the reasons for Bixby’s lack of popularity is the limited AI features compared to its rivals. However, that could be changing soon — as soon as early 2026, when Bixby might receive a deeper integration of Perplexity’s AI chatbot. According to leaker with the handle @chunvn8888 on X, Samsung is testing Perplexity’s integration into Bixby on its smartphones and tablets. The feature, they say, is set to arrive with the launch of the Galaxy S26 series next year.
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The leaker highlights that Bixby and Perplexity will share the load of responsibilities. While simpler tasks, such as creating a reminder or an alarm will be powered by Bixby’s own chops, more complex tasks, likely including searching the web for information, will be handled by Perplexity AI. In hindsight, Perplexity’s bid to offer 12 months of free subscription to Galaxy users in the US could be an attempt to warm them up to the service.
Tushar Mehta / Android Authority
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