Samsung is set to give its voice assistant Bixby a major makeover, incorporating generative AI technology. This move comes hot on the heels of Apple’s recent AI advancements for Siri, signaling a renewed focus on improving the capabilities of voice assistants. TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics, revealed to CNBC that the upcoming Bixby upgrade will mark a significant leap from its original launch in 2017 with the Galaxy S8 series.
The planned update aims to address the key challenges faced by Bixby and other voice assistants, particularly in understanding complex commands and executing tasks with contextual awareness. Historically, Bixby has stood out with features like ‘My Day,’ which personalizes the user’s homepage with dynamic updates, and ‘Bixby Vision,’ which provides information on scanned objects. However, despite these functionalities, Bixby has struggled to match the fluency and versatility of its competitors like Google Assistant and Siri.
Samsung’s generative AI technology, developed in-house, is expected to enhance Bixby’s performance significantly. While Roh did not specify whether this technology will leverage the Galaxy AI platform, the tech community eagerly awaits further details about its implementation and impact on the user experience.
This announcement comes amidst a broader strategy from Samsung to integrate AI more deeply into its product ecosystem. The company recently showcased new AI capabilities for its latest devices, including the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Galaxy Z Flip 6, and Galaxy Buds 3 series, at its second Galaxy Unpacked event of the year.
The competition in the voice assistant market is heating up, with companies vying to offer the most intuitive and powerful AI experiences. Samsung’s move to upgrade Bixby with generative AI technology signifies its commitment to staying at the forefront of this technological race and providing users with a more seamless and intelligent experience across its devices.
