By Sumit Adhikari
Publication Date: 2026-01-02 08:27:00
Samsung is giving Bixby the overhaul it has long needed, with Perplexity at the center of that effort. A recent leak offered early clues about the next-generation Bixby expected to debut with One UI 8.5 on the Galaxy S26 series. Now, thanks to fresh visuals shared by our own @thatjoshguy69, we’re getting a much closer look at the revamped assistant, its new interface, and its expanded capabilities.
One UI 8.5 brings a floating Bixby powered by Perplexity
A video shared on X shows that the new Bixby can now handle complex prompts on its own. Well, Perplexity is doing the job behind the scenes, but Samsung’s in-house assistant no longer redirects you to the web if it can’t answer your query. Josh asked Bixby, “Tell me about SammyGuru,” and it came up with a detailed description about the site, including key features and content, team, contacts, and policies.
Welcome to 2026 everyone! Let’s start this year off with a banger. A look at the new Bixby, powered by Perplexity.
Thanks to @achultra for hooking me up with the apk pic.twitter.com/sKZQlEX6w7
— That Josh Guy (@thatjoshguy69) January 1, 2026
On One UI 8 or older (even on the official One UI 8.5 Beta 2), Bixby simply redirects you to Google or your default search engine for the same query. Perplexity-integrated Bixby on One UI 8.5 (currently not available publicly) now doesn’t send you anywhere. You get your answers on a floating sheet. You don’t even have to exit the app you…
