What is Bixby? How to use Samsung’s AI assistant

What can Bixby do?

There are a lot of helpful things that Bixby can do to make your Galaxy experience smoother. The virtual assistant can help you take care of simple tasks using voice commands or screen calls, but it can also be programmed to perform certain tasks called “Bixby Routines” every time a specific trigger happens. For example, you can have Bixby set specific alarms for you depending on your morning routine, which can change each day, or you can set specific apps to open at specific times depending on your phone usage routine.

One tool that sets Bixby apart from its other virtual assistant counterparts is Bixby Vision. Bixby Vision uses your camera to view specific items or landmarks and help you make more informed life decisions around them. While that may sound a little vague, that’s just because the uses for Bixby Vision are so diverse.

For example, you can use it to scan a makeup kit, and it can allow you to virtually try it on before deciding if you want to purchase it or not. Another thing that Bixby Vision can do is scan your surroundings if you’re out somewhere and come up with a list of recommended nearby activities and restaurants. While other virtual assistants do offer similar services, it’s the ease of use and integration between features that gives Bixby Vision its unique level of helpfulness.

What devices have Bixby?

Following its introduction in 2017, Bixby has become a staple of Galaxy devices as it’s been included in a large number of them, ranging from the more modestly priced models to each year’s latest flagship.

Bixby is included with all Galaxy S models, which includes the S10, S20, S21, S22, S23, and S24 series. It’s also available on mid-range Galaxy A models such as the A51, A52, A53, A54, A71, A72, and A73.

Bixby is also included in all versions of both the Galaxy Z Fold and the Galaxy Z Flip. In terms of tablet offerings, Samsung’s flagship tablets — the Tab S line — feature Bixby in all recent models, including the Tab S6, S7, S8, and S9.

As a general rule of thumb, if you have a Galaxy device from the last few years, you likely have Bixby on it, you may just not know it.

Pulling up Samsung Bixby and Bixby Voice couldn’t be easier.

If you’re using Bixby for the first time, opening Bixby will bring you to the setup screen. Follow the onscreen prompts, and once you’re done, Bixby will be set up.

How to use Bixby Voice

Once you’ve set up Bixby, you’re free to use the voice assistant at your leisure. You can activate it by saying, “Hey, Bixby,” or by holding down the side key to pull up listen mode. If you don’t want to look like you’re talking to your phone in public, you can talk to Bixby by holding your phone up to your ear, like a phone call, or through wireless earbuds that support phone calls.

Bixby can perform tasks like sending text messages via the Samsung Messages app and responding to basic questions about the weather, upcoming meetings, sports scores, and movie showtimes. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg — the voice assistant also works across apps like the phone dialer, the settings menus, the camera app, the contacts list, the gallery, and more.

In addition to the basics, Bixby can also handle complicated tasks like opening an app in a split-screen view, rotating misaligned photos, reminding you where you parked, playing videos on a nearby TV, and composing emails. If asked, it can gather all the photos you took last week into a new album labeled “Vacation” and share it with your friends, or take a selfie and text it to someone. And it can perform two-step actions like, “Open Uber and rate my driver five stars,” or “Open Instagram and post my most recent photo.”

There are also some pretty sweet hands-free functions via Bixby. For example, you can ask Bixby to “read out the latest messages,” and it will read you your texts or emails, assuming you use native Samsung apps. In short, Bixby allows you to use your voice to easily complete tasks on your phone, ranging from the most basic to the more complex.

By default, Bixby Vision opens in Discover mode, which allows you to search the internet for whatever is in the frame of the camera. Essentially, it does a quick Google search and brings up any image that matches what you have in front of you. This way, you can search for similar items, find videos about your item, or find shopping results for it. Discover mode can also be used to scan nearby landmarks, which can be used to find nearby attractions and restaurants. Similarly, you can scan food items to find restaurants that serve things like it or recipes for cooking other things like it.

Translate mode allows you to scan text in a foreign language and translate it into your chosen language. It supports a large range of languages and works similarly to other examples of its kind, like Google Lens. Line up the text you want to translate into the box on the screen, and a real-time translation should appear. As with all direct translation tools, there can be issues when it comes to proper grammar and the like, but it’s a reliable tool to use, especially if you’re in a foreign environment.

The Text mode works to simply copy text that’s in front of you to your phone. This way, you can instantly copy text from a flier or other physical item to your phone. When selected, the text can then be translated, copied, or searched for on Google to find matching text.

How to change Bixby settings

There are a lot of aspects to Bixby, so changing its settings may be crucial for you to get the most out of the virtual assistant.

To pull up the Bixby settings menu, access Bixby with the side key or by saying “Hi, Bixby,” into your phone. With Bixby listening, select the gear icon on the bottom right side of the screen. Here, you’ll be able to access a plethora of settings, such as Bixby’s voice activation trigger, the language it speaks in, and the voice it uses. If you’re new to Bixby, it’s worth taking a few minutes to look at all of the settings and customize them to your liking.

The other place where you can access Bixby settings is the Discover menu. To access it, pull up Bixby and then select the option that says Discover on the right side of the Bixby pop-up. Here, you’ll be able to view different ways to use Bixby, such as by asking for things like a joke of the day, sports scores, or for the virtual assistant to use your camera to take a selfie. By scrolling down to the bottom of the menu, you’ll find the Tips for using Bixby option, which will link you to a section of the Samsung website that gives some tutorials on using the virtual assistant.

If you want to alter Bixby’s quick commands, select the three vertical dots in the top right corner and select Quick Commands from the drop-down menu. Here, you can see the quick commands that are on by default and program your own by selecting the plus button in the top right corner. With quick commands, you can have Bixby run programs after it hears small phrases spoken by you to conveniently use your phone without needing to even touch it. For example, if you say, “I’m going to bed,” Bixby will set an alarm for you automatically.

If you don’t want your phone to have access to Bixby for one reason or another, turning it off is very simple. Open your device settings by swiping down from the top of the screen twice and selecting the gear icon in the top right corner of the screen. In the settings, select the magnifying glass icon on the right side of the screen and search for Bixby. In the search results, select the Bixby settings option.

Here, you’ll find all sorts of different options for Bixby. If you want to delete Bixby from your device, scroll down to the bottom of the page and select Leave Bixby. When you do, you’ll be given information on what leaving Bixby means, as well as how to get it back on your device should you ever want it. Select Leave Bixby once more, and the virtual assistant will uninstall.

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