South Korean tech giant, Samsung, is planning to integrate advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology into its voice assistant, Bixby, in a bid to enhance the functionality and appeal of its devices.
Bixby, Samsung’s proprietary voice assistant, debuted in 2017 alongside the release of the Galaxy S8 smartphone. Initially offering features such as live translations and restaurant recommendations, Bixby has since become a central component of Samsung’s ecosystem, available on the company’s smartphones, smartwatches, and home appliances.
Traditionally, voice assistants like Bixby have functioned in a transactional manner, responding to user queries with pre-programmed responses. However, with recent advancements in AI technology, particularly in the field of natural language processing, there has been a growing demand for more conversational and interactive voice interfaces.
AI models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and its competitors have demonstrated the potential for AI systems to engage in more nuanced and relevant conversations. These models are capable of generating responses to user prompts in various forms, including text, images, and videos, expanding the scope of interactions possible with AI-powered assistants.
Despite Bixby’s existing capabilities, it has yet to fully leverage the potential of generative AI technology. According to the executive vice president at Samsung’s mobile business, Won-joon Choi, the company has recognised the need to redefine Bixby’s role in light of these technological advancements.
Choi stressed Samsung’s commitment to equipping Bixby with generative AI capabilities to enable more natural and intelligent conversations. By integrating generative AI into Bixby, Samsung aims to enhance the user experience and provide seamless integration with its diverse range of products and services.
While no specific timeline has been provided for when these enhancements to Bixby might be rolled out, Choi assured that Samsung is actively working on implementing generative AI features into the voice assistant.
Samsung’s focus on advancing the capabilities of Bixby places it in competition with tech giants like Apple and Google, both of which are also investing heavily in AI research and development.
