Samsung has taken a step forward in the development of its virtual assistant Bixby, launching a new version that comes loaded with significant new features and improvements. Artificial intelligence (AI) has played a key role in this update, allowing Bixby is more efficient and able to understand natural language and context in a much more advanced way. This new iteration of the Bixby assistant has debuted on the China-exclusive models, the Samsung W25 and W25 Flip, and is expected to arrive in other markets soon.
For some time now, Samsung has been betting on artificial intelligence to improve the user experience on its devices. This time, Bixby has been completely revamped to better integrate with users' daily lives, providing immediate and useful responses according to specific situations. For example, it is now able to suggest routes for trips based on traffic or the best outfit according to the weather. This ability to understand multiple questions and offering context-based responses represents a leap forward from previous versions.
The Galaxy W25: the first mobile phone with the new version of Bixby
In this presentation, Samsung has chosen the W25 and the W25 Flip, two of its most recent foldable devices, as the first to receive the new Bixby. These models, which have been presented at CES 2024, stand out not only for their innovative foldable design, but also for the added capacity offered by this intelligent assistant. Users of these phones will be able to interact with Bixby in a more intuitive way**, asking it to perform several actions in a single command or to interpret what appears on the screen to offer assistance.
One of the most striking innovations is Bixby's ability to read and understand what is happening on the mobile screen. If, for example, you have a message or an address on the screen, Bixby can instantly offer you a route to that locationThis feature promises to save users time and make the user experience more comfortable.
Answers to complex questions and personalization in real time
The voice assistant is not limited to understanding simple questions, but can also answer more complex queries, such as “What should I wear to work today?” In this case, Bixby will analyse the weather and suggest suitable clothing. Additionally, if asked about the travel time to the office, it can suggest alternative routes based on real-time traffic conditions. This makes the assistant a useful and dynamic tool, which goes far beyond what it offered in its previous versions.
As for its interface, Bixby has also undergone a visual redesign. It now features more colorful animations and a more intuitive presentation, which includes both voice and text interactionThis variety of input options ensures a richer experience for users who prefer not to speak at specific times, allowing them to interact only by typing their questions or commands.
Availability and expansion to other markets
For now, this revamped Bixby is available exclusively in China for the Samsung W25 and W25 Flip models. However, Bixby is expected to arrive on devices in other markets with Samsung's next update, One UI 7.0, which will be released next year. The Korean company has decided to make this first deployment in one of the most competitive markets and where, traditionally, it has tested many of its innovations.
This presentation has also served as an opportunity for Samsung tochallenge other big names in the world of voice assistants, like Apple's Siri and Google AssistantBixby, with its ability to understand the context of conversations and its new features, has begun to walk in the same direction as these other tech giants. Although there is still a long way to go, the update we saw at CES 2024 suggests that Samsung is determined to make Bixby a benchmark in the world of virtual assistants.
