Samsung introduced Galaxy AI, a suite of AI and Generative AI-powered features, with the Galaxy S24 earlier this year. Last week, most of those features trickled down to older flagships like the Galaxy S23 with the One UI 6.1 update. While people were expecting Generative AI to power Bixby as well, it didn't happen. It will happen soon, though, as per a new report.
Bixby will get ChatGPT-like Generative AI smarts in the future
A high-ranking executive from Samsung Electronics revealed to CNBC that Bixby will get ChatGPT-like chatbot capabilities, powered by Generative AI. Won-joon Choi, Executive Vice President of Samsung MX, said, “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.”
Bixby debuted with the Galaxy S8 in 2017, and it was unique. It could do many things, like change the phone's settings and perform advanced actions inside Samsung's stock apps. However, Samsung changed its stance and tried to make it more like Alexa and Google Assistant. It fell behind the curve and was soon forgotten by most users. Now, it seems like Samsung is improving it with the help of Generative AI and LLM. However, the company hasn't revealed any specifics.
Google has already released Gemini, the LLM-powered AI chatbot to Pixel and Galaxy phones in some markets. ChatGPT is also available to almost all smartphones, and it seems like Samsung is behind the curve once again. It has launched its own AI model called Samsung Gauss, and some of the features in Galaxy AI are powered by it. It could use the same model to power Bixby in the future.
Samsung has already made it clear that Bixby and Galaxy AI will co-exist, and that Bixby and SmartThings will get improvements with AI in the future.