Samsung Follows Apple's AI Strategy With Perplexity-Powered Bixby

[MacRumors]

While Apple is moving toward a multi-model AI strategy for Siri, Samsung appears to be following a similar path by integrating Perplexity's AI into its Bixby assistant for the upcoming Galaxy S26.

According to the well-regarded tipster @chunvn8888 on X (Twitter), the arrangement would see Samsung's Bixby continuing to handle basic on-device requests such as toggling settings and activating system features, while Perplexity's models would take on queries that involve complex reasoning and generative tasks.

Currently, Apple Intelligence blends on-device models for relatively simple tasks with OpenAI's ChatGPT for more complex reasoning and generation. A Samsung-Perplexity pairing would replicate this split. However, Samsung already maintains a deep AI partnership with Google, and newer Galaxy devices ship with Gemini-powered features embedded directly into its custom One UI interface. Choosing Perplexity suggests Samsung is widening its model pool rather than consolidating around Google's ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Apple is preparing a broader expansion of its own multi-model strategy. A recent Bloomberg report claims the more capable version of Siri under development will rely on Google's Gemini for advanced tasks such as summarisation and multi-step planning, with Apple's own models continuing to power select features.

The more advanced Siri was originally meant to arrive with iOS 18, but Apple is said to have recognized the need to rework the assistant's core architecture, which has pushed the release to a software update expected early next year.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1992840567282360759

Despite Apple's reliance on external partners, Apple is said to be continuing to invest heavily in its internal LLM roadmap. Apple is reportedly developing a cloud-based complex reasoning model that could be ready as soon as 2026.

As a result of the update, ‌Siri‌ will be able to answer more complex queries and complete more complicated tasks in and between apps. It will be closer in function to Claude and ChatGPT, however Apple is not planning a dedicated chatbot app.

Article Link: Samsung Follows Apple's AI Strategy With Perplexity-Powered Bixby

 

[mjschabow]

As someone who uses Samsung phones, I can say that the way it's set up is done really well.

 

[ELman]

Who is going to win this race Bixby or Siri.

 

[switz]

I wish we did not have to make a choice between two evils but could just turn this stuff really OFF, like delete from the device. That would be the only way to be sure it was, in fact, OFF.

I have never really trusted the digital slider switches on any devices to actually turn OFF the collection of my data or activity. Because there is money to be made by selling the user's information and activity.

 

[wanha]

imo this is a logical move for Samsung, who have always been a platform agnostic - or at least platform flexible - company.

Now with AI, they're doing the same thing through Perplexity - letting others fight the platform wars while they focus on integration and hardware.

It allows Samsung to remain technologically flexible and adaptive in order to execute their "fast follower" strategy no matter which way the market ends up going

Disclaimer: I'm not a fan of Samsung as a company nor do I own any of their products. The above is simply intended as to why I think the Perplexity deal makes total sense for them.

 

[lazyrighteye]

Samsung is doomed. Jun Young-hyun should step down. I miss Han Jong-hee. 🤪

 

[Techwatcher]

Why? Perplexity doesn't even use its own LLM/engine.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Perplexity-powered Bixby? Try saying that drunk!

 

[DMG35]

Samsung is so far ahead of Apple in AI it’s laughable.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

While Apple is moving toward a multi-model AI strategy for Siri, Samsung appears to be following a similar path by integrating Perplexity's AI into its Bixby assistant for the upcoming Galaxy S26.

Samsung is copying what Apple is doing? 🤯

 

[alexe]

"Features" like Bixby are the reason why I would never ever buy a Samsung phone.

Nobody wants Samsung's shltty add-ons and modifications to Android. Nobody wants Bixby, there's already Google Assistant and it's much better than Bixby.

If I were to buy an Android phone, it could only be a Pixel, because I would want plain Android and not some hardware manufacturer's shltty adaptation of it.

 

[bluecoast]

I hope that Apple doesn’t follow Samsung’s strategy, as current Siri cannot reliably operate system features.