Siri Better Watch Out Samsung Unveils Major Bixby Update

Over the past few years, Samsung’s Bixby assistant has often seemed like a secondary player in the digital assistant arena. In 2024, as Google rolls out Gemini and Apple enhances Siri drastically, Bixby has remained noticeably stagnant, lacking significant upgrades or features to keep pace.

However, change may be on the horizon. At a launch event in China for the Galaxy W25 and W25 Flip, Samsung unveiled its next-generation Bixby, promising a host of new AI capabilities that could help it compete more effectively with Gemini and Siri.

The updated Bixby aims to excel in understanding complex inquiries and will be equipped to handle multitasking instructions conveyed in a single phrase. Similar to how Siri has improved its comprehension of natural language, Bixby is set to receive comparable enhancements.

Additionally, the new Bixby will have the capability to analyze what’s displayed on your phone or tablet screen, allowing it to respond more accurately to your needs. For instance, if you’re looking at a restaurant and send a message about it, you could simply tell Bixby to “navigate here” for step-by-step directions. It appears Bixby is also acquiring functionalities for website translation and creating documents, slides, and spreadsheets based on user prompts.

Bixby is also expected to feature a redesigned interface that takes over the entire screen. While it’s still uncertain if it will incorporate the glowing effect introduced with the latest Siri, a visual refresh from the current version of Bixby is confirmed.

Though these updates sound promising, there is a significant caveat: Samsung has not disclosed when the next-gen Bixby will become available beyond the China-only Galaxy W25 and W25 Flip devices.

Speculation suggests that the new Bixby may make its debut in the U.S. with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S25 series in early 2025, although this remains unconfirmed. It’s also possible that the updated Bixby will not be widely available until the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 later in 2025.

Whenever the new Bixby arrives, it’s likely to attract significant attention. Samsung has been actively engaged in the AI space this year with its Galaxy AI suite, and Bixby’s lack of involvement has been noticeable. Whether these enhancements will effectively challenge Siri and Gemini’s dominance remains to be seen, but Samsung appears to be moving in the right direction.