Samsung is infusing Bixby with AI superpowers for a revival

Samsung is considering enhancing Bixby with generative AI capabilities, a development confirmed by a senior Samsung official in an interview with CNBC last month.

“With the emergence of generative AI and LLM (large language model) technology, I believe that we have to redefine the role of the Bixby so that Bixby could be equipped with Generative AI and become more smarter in the future,” Won-joon Choi, executive vice president of Samsung’s mobile business told CNBC.

Can AI fix what the market rejected?

Introduced in 2017 alongside the Samsung Galaxy S8, Bixby was equipped with various capabilities, including performing live translations and suggesting dining spots. Historically, voice assistants have been more transactional, answering questions upon request rather than engaging in dialogue.

However, the advent of OpenAI’s ChatGPT and similar technologies has marked the rise of more sophisticated chatbots. These advanced platforms, showcasing generative AI, can process intricate inquiries and produce responses not just in text, but also in images and, increasingly, videos.

Bixby, integrated into Samsung’s range of products from smartphones and smartwatches to home appliances, is viewed by the company as a crucial interface for users to manage their electronic devices seamlessly at home.

What to expect from Galaxy AI?

For a considerable period, Bixby has been part of Samsung’s ecosystem, and despite the introduction of Galaxy AI enhancements across various apps and services, Bixby’s advancement in generative AI has been minimal.

Details on how Samsung intends to integrate AI into Bixby are sparse. It remains to be seen whether Bixby will evolve into a comprehensive conversational AI platform similar to ChatGPT and Google Gemini. Nonetheless, the Samsung representative emphasized that the company is diligently advancing towards integrating generative AI features into its primary voice assistant.

Samsung has previously stated that Bixby and Galaxy AI will coexist on its smartphones, highlighting at CES 2024 that AI technology will facilitate collaboration between SmartThings and Bixby.

Samsung is considering enhancing Bixby with generative AI capabilities (Image credit) Which AI features could Bixby get?

If Bixby and Galaxy AI keep working hand in hand, we could be welcoming these exciting features to Bixby in the near future, though it’s still a bit of a guess:

• Browsing Assist: Integrated within the Samsung Internet app, this feature distills lengthy articles and web pages, emphasizing essential insights to refine your reading journey.

• Live Translate: This tool offers instant translation for phone conversations, making it invaluable for travelers needing to navigate language barriers. Picture needing to hail a taxi in a foreign country; Live Translate acts as your personal interpreter, streamlining communication in multiple languages and ensuring smooth interactions.
• Transcript Assist: This functionality transforms voice recordings and dialogues into written transcripts, capable of distinguishing between different speakers in a conversation. It allows for the translation of these transcripts into another language, presenting both the original and translated texts simultaneously for easy comparison.
• Note Assist: Designed to enhance efficiency, Note Assist helps condense lengthy documents by generating summaries and creating structured templates, including customizable note covers for quick reference. It also features a translation tool, further boosting productivity within the Samsung Notes application.
• Chat Assist: Aimed at fostering better communication across languages, this feature supports message sending and real-time translation during conversations. It’s perfect for keeping in touch with international contacts, adapting the tone to match your current mood or context, and providing spelling and grammar suggestions for polished communication.

Featured image credit: Anh Nhat/Unsplash