Perplexity AI Comes to Bixby in One UI 8.5

• Perplexity AI is integrated into Samsung’s Bixby in One UI 8.5, enabling web-search–based replies for complex queries.
• The feature is appearing in One UI 8.5 beta builds (Galaxy S25 series) and is expected to ship stable with Galaxy S26 in early 2026.
• One UI 8.5 testing is expanding across phones, tablets (Tab S8/S9/S11/S10 FE) and wearables; other UI refinements (battery status, Now Bar) are included.
• Samsung has not published detailed privacy or data-sharing terms for the Perplexity integration—expect opt-in controls in Bixby settings.

What Perplexity integration means for Bixby

Samsung’s One UI 8.5 brings Perplexity AI into Bixby to help handle queries that require live web searches and synthesis. Early first-look reports indicate the assistant can hand off complex, search‑dependent tasks to Perplexity and return concise, sourced answers.

How this changes voice and assistant tasks

Instead of returning a simple device-only response, Bixby will now be able to draw on Perplexity’s web-indexing to summarize current information, surface links, and cite sources where applicable. That should make Bixby more useful for research-style queries, travel planning, news checks, and troubleshooting scenarios.

Where and when you'll see it

Perplexity-in-Bixby is rolling with One UI 8.5, which is in beta on the Galaxy S25 series. Samsung released two beta updates so far and has been expanding the program; a third beta was signaled for early January 2026, while a stable One UI 8.5 release is expected alongside the Galaxy S26 in February–March 2026.

Samsung is also testing One UI 8.5 on tablets (Galaxy Tab S8 and S9, plus Tab S11 and Tab S10 FE) and pushing watch software updates for wearables. That broad testing suggests Perplexity features could appear across phones and tablets first, with Wear OS devices focusing on companion changes.

Privacy, data and user controls

Samsung has not yet published full details on how Bixby will share queries with Perplexity or what data will be logged. Historically, Samsung provides assistant controls and opt-ins in the settings—expect similar privacy toggles and an explanation of how sources are used before wide rollout.

What to watch next

Watch for official notes in upcoming One UI 8.5 beta changelogs and Samsung’s Unpacked event early 2026. If you’re on a participating Galaxy S25 beta build, test web-search queries in Bixby and look for source citations and a new “web-sourced answer” flow.