Samsung appears to be quietly preparing one of the biggest upgrades to Bixby in years. According to recent leaks, the South Korean tech giant is testing a major AI-powered revamp of its virtual assistant in the upcoming One UI 8.5, which is expected to be based on Android 16. The update could bring advanced conversational abilities to Bixby by integrating technologies from DeepSeek and Perplexity AI, potentially positioning Samsung to better compete with Google Gemini Live.
While Samsung has not officially confirmed these changes yet, early findings from beta software builds suggest that Bixby may soon evolve from a basic voice assistant into a multi-modal, live AI companion capable of handling complex tasks, generating content, and interacting visually with the world around it.
A Quiet but Significant Shift in Samsung’s AI Strategy
For years, Bixby has struggled to gain the same traction as Google Assistant or Apple’s Siri. However, Samsung never abandoned the platform. Instead, the company has been gradually reworking Bixby behind the scenes, and One UI 8.5 could mark a turning point.
According to screenshots and observations shared by tipster Galaxy Techie on X, Samsung has integrated Perplexity AI’s search intelligence and DeepSeek’s large language model capabilities into Bixby Live. This combination suggests a hybrid AI system—one that can reason deeply while also citing or referencing real-world information.
This approach mirrors what users already see in Perplexity’s standalone AI assistant, which is known for answering complex questions with contextual awareness and source-backed responses.
What Is Bixby Live in One UI 8.5?
Bixby Live appears to be Samsung’s answer to Gemini Live, offering a conversational, real-time AI experience rather than simple command-based interactions. Instead of only responding to voice prompts, Bixby Live reportedly understands context across screens, images, documents, and even live camera input.
In leaked beta builds, Bixby Live behaves more like an AI assistant that can think, explain, and create, rather than simply execute commands.
Eight AI “Agents” for Different Use Cases
One of the most interesting aspects of the leak is the presence of multiple AI agents within Bixby Live. These agents are designed to adapt Bixby’s personality and function depending on the task. The reported agents include:
- General – For everyday questions and assistance
- Tour Guide – Travel planning, location insights, and recommendations
- Interview – Mock interviews, professional Q&A, and preparation
- Positive Support – Motivational and emotional encouragement
- Storyteller – Creative writing and narratives
- Listening Ear – Conversational and reflective interactions
- Dress Matching – Outfit suggestions using camera input
This multi-agent system hints that Samsung is experimenting with context-aware AI roles, something few mainstream assistants currently offer in a structured way.
Exporting AI Results: A Big Productivity Upgrade
One UI 8.5 is also expected to introduce export options for AI-generated content, making Bixby more useful for students, professionals, and creators.
According to the leak, users will be able to download Bixby’s responses as:
- PDF files
- Microsoft Word documents
- Plain text files
This feature could turn Bixby into a lightweight productivity tool, allowing users to save summaries, explanations, notes, or creative content for offline access.
Unlike earlier versions of Bixby, which mostly delivered temporary answers, this change suggests Samsung wants Bixby to be used for actual work, not just quick queries.
Multi-Image and Video Queries Explained
Another major enhancement involves multi-modal input support. In simple terms, users may soon be able to attach:
- Multiple images
- Videos
- Documents
- Screenshots
…to a single query and receive a combined response.
For example, a user could upload photos of a math problem, a handwritten note, and a textbook page, then ask Bixby Live to explain the solution step by step. Similarly, videos could be used for object identification, translations, or contextual explanations.
This brings Bixby closer to advanced AI tools that understand visual context, not just text or voice.
Screen Reading and Camera-Based Intelligence
Leaked screenshots also suggest that Bixby Live can read what’s currently displayed on the screen. This means users may be able to ask questions like:
- “Explain what’s happening on this page”
- “Summarise this article”
- “Translate this text”
Additionally, Bixby Live is reportedly capable of taking input directly from the phone’s camera feed. This could allow real-time features such as:
- Translating signs or documents
- Solving equations written on paper
- Identifying objects or clothing
- Providing annotations or captions
Interestingly, the AI-generated captions and notes are said to be automatically saved on the device, reducing the need to manually copy information.
Podcast, Music, and Media Generation
One of the more ambitious claims from the leak is Bixby Live’s ability to generate audio and media content. This includes:
- Podcasts
- Music tracks
- Audio files
- Images
- Videos
If this feature makes it to the final release, it could significantly expand how users interact with Samsung’s ecosystem—especially creators who want quick drafts or inspiration without third-party apps.
However, it remains unclear how advanced these media generation tools will be at launch or whether they will be limited by region or device capability.
Perplexity Integration: Sources Matter
This isn’t the first time Perplexity has been linked to Samsung. In earlier reports, users noticed Perplexity’s icon appearing within Bixby’s interface, particularly near a “Sources” button.
This suggests Samsung may allow users to verify where information comes from, a growing concern in the AI era. Transparent sourcing is one area where Perplexity has built a strong reputation, and its inclusion could help Bixby feel more trustworthy.
For users, this means fewer vague answers and more confidence in the accuracy of AI-generated responses.
Smart Session Management and Privacy Considerations
Bixby Live is also expected to introduce automatic session management. If the assistant detects inactivity, it may close conversations on its own, helping reduce background processing and potential battery drain.
While Samsung hasn’t detailed how user data will be handled, automatic saving of annotations and downloads suggests most processing could happen locally or securely within Samsung’s ecosystem, aligning with the company’s broader privacy messaging.
How This Positions Samsung Against Google and Apple
If these features are confirmed, Samsung’s AI strategy could finally feel competitive again. Google Gemini Live currently dominates Android-based AI experiences, while Apple is preparing its own AI overhaul.
By combining DeepSeek’s reasoning capabilities with Perplexity’s search intelligence, Samsung may be aiming for a balanced assistant—one that is both creative and informative.
Rather than building everything from scratch, Samsung appears to be taking a collaborative AI approach, leveraging external innovation while maintaining control over the user experience.
What’s Still Unconfirmed
It’s important to note that all of this information comes from beta software and leaks. Samsung has not officially announced:
- DeepSeek integration
- Perplexity partnership details
- A release timeline for One UI 8.5
- Device compatibility
Features seen in beta builds do not always make it to public releases, or they may launch in limited markets first.
Final Thoughts
One UI 8.5 could represent the most meaningful evolution of Bixby since its debut. If Samsung delivers even half of what these leaks suggest, Bixby Live may finally step out of the shadow of Google Assistant and Gemini.
With document exports, multi-modal understanding, live camera input, and AI agents tailored to different needs, Samsung seems serious about redefining how users interact with AI on their phones.
For now, all eyes remain on Samsung’s next official announcement. Until then, One UI 8.5 is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing Android updates on the horizon.