Samsung Galaxy S26 Bixby: One UI 8.5 Reboots Bixby as Conversational Device Agent, Rolls Out in Betas

The samsung galaxy s26 bixby update is part of a One UI 8. 5 beta that reboots Bixby as a conversational device agent, adding natural-language device control and built-in web search; the company has opened a beta program and is seeding One UI 8. 5 betas in multiple markets ahead of the Galaxy S26 launch.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Bixby: what the One UI 8. 5 beta introduces

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. announced a beta program for an upgraded Bixby built to operate as a conversational device agent. The redesign aims to let users interact with Galaxy devices using natural language so they can ask for actions or explanations without learning exact setting names or command phrases. The update also expands access to up-to-date answers from the open web, with results shown inside Bixby’s own user interface.

Natural-language device control and contextual guidance

The new Bixby understands intent and takes action rather than offering only generic instructions. Examples supplied in the beta materials show a user saying, “I don’t want the screen to time out while I’m still looking at it, ” and Bixby turning on the 'Keep Screen on While Viewing' setting immediately. When asked why a phone screen is always on while inside a pocket, Bixby can surface relevant settings such as Accidental Touch Protection and allow the user to enable them directly. The redesign is presented as a way to reduce friction and trial-and-error for everyday device tasks.

Built-in real-time web search and example use cases

Bixby’s update includes real-time web search capabilities that present live information directly within the assistant interface so users are not redirected to a separate browser or app. An illustrative use case shows a user asking Bixby to "Find me hotels in Seoul that have swimming pools for kids, " with search results returned inside Bixby for immediate exploration.

Beta availability and platform timing

• One UI 8. 5 betas with the new Bixby are rolling out in select markets including Germany, India, Korea, Poland, the UK and the U. S.
• The latest One UI 8. 5 beta builds have been made available on Galaxy S25 series devices in those markets, with the newest beta arriving in the U. S. earlier today.
• One UI 8. 5 is based on Android 16 and is expected to begin broader rollout to Galaxy users in the coming months after it launches with the Galaxy S26 series, which is set to be announced next week.

Context, language support and program notes

Samsung positioned the rebuild as part of a broader effort to make AI on its phones easier to use, with Won-Joon Choi, Chief Operating Officer of the Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics, saying the redesign enables more natural interactions and intuitive device control to reduce everyday friction. The beta materials note that use of the Bixby service requires a Samsung Account login and a data connection, that available functions and features may vary by country, region and language, and that Bixby recognizes only certain accents and dialects of several languages, including English (UK), English (US), English (India), French (France), German (Germany) and Italian (Italy).

Re-announcement, prior false start and third-party mentions

The Bixby reboot was re-announced after a false start in January. The company did not specify the technology powering the new web search integration; public mentions include a separate AI answer engine by name, but the materials do not attribute the web search implementation to a particular provider.

Practical considerations for users and what’s next

Users in the listed beta markets on Galaxy S25 devices can test the new conversational Bixby now through One UI 8. 5 beta builds, while a wider deployment tied to the Galaxy S26 launch and subsequent One UI 8. 5 rollout is planned. The company’s newsroom videos will no longer be supported on Internet Explorer, and the beta documentation highlights variability in availability and feature behavior by region and language. Recent updates indicate the program is active and expanding; details may evolve as the beta progresses.