Samsung has officially launched its “Next-generation Bixby” voice assistant for select Galaxy devices, marking the arrival of an AI-powered upgrade. Although Samsung teased this update earlier in the year, the new version was not initially part of the Galaxy AI suite and was notably absent from prior updates. The voice assistant received a UI redesign but lacked major new features. In July, Samsung confirmed its plans for a more robust AI revamp of Bixby, although it was unclear when this would take place.
Now, the new Bixby has quietly rolled out with the launch of the Galaxy W25 and W25 Flip in China, two region-exclusive models of the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition. This next-generation assistant introduces a host of upgraded capabilities, marking a significant leap forward in the voice assistant’s functionality. While the new features are currently exclusive to China, they showcase the potential direction for future Bixby updates globally.
Among the key enhancements, Samsung highlights Bixby’s ability to pull video content into responses. For example, users can request travel tips from Bixby and have the assistant respond with text as well as related video content. Another major addition is Bixby’s ability to translate entire web pages, improving its usefulness for users who navigate foreign-language sites or need quick translations.
Additionally, Samsung touts Bixby’s ability to understand more complex user intentions and process natural language input more accurately. This improvement suggests that Bixby will be better at interpreting ambiguous or multi-part commands, making it more versatile. The updated assistant will also be able to understand the context of instructions, drawing on content that is currently visible on the user’s screen to respond more effectively.
One of the most notable features is the integration of generative AI in office documents. Bixby can now generate Word documents and slideshows based on user prompts, enhancing its productivity capabilities. Although the new Bixby is currently only available with the Galaxy W25 series in China, it’s expected that this advanced assistant may roll out globally in the near future, potentially as part of Samsung’s One UI 7 update scheduled for early 2025.
