Samsung Electronics announced on Tuesday that it has enhanced its artificial intelligence (AI) voice assistant, Bixby, to make home appliances more intuitive and user-friendly.
This upgrade enables appliances to accurately understand the context of everyday conversations, allowing them to make appropriate inferences and judgments based on the situation.
The new Bixby can interpret users’ intentions without requiring specific function names or predefined commands. For example, if a user tells their refrigerator, “I put beef and mackerel inside, so change the mode,” it will automatically set the Meat and Fish Mode. Similarly, if someone says to their air conditioner, “Turn it on without blowing air,” it will initiate Wind-Free Cooling. Washing machines and robotic vacuums also use information from the user’s speech to determine and execute the most suitable cycle or mode.
Users can now easily manage automation settings across multiple devices using voice commands. Conditional instructions like “Clean the floor after the laundry is done” or “Use the air conditioner to dehumidify when it rains” will trigger automatic cooperation between devices. The Device Q&A feature has also been improved, offering voice responses to inquiries and, for appliances with screens, accompanying instructional videos.
A notable addition to this version of Bixby is the new Open Q&A feature, which integrates the generative AI service Perplexity. This allows users to receive accurate and helpful answers to everyday questions such as “Where are good places for a spring outing?” or “How do I store onions for a long time?”
These upgraded features have been initially implemented in the 2026 Family Hub refrigerator and new models of air conditioners, robotic vacuums, water purifiers, and washing machines with 7-inch screens. Samsung plans to continue enhancing its software, including an AI Energy Saving Mode that suggests ways to reduce energy consumption, further improving the convenience of AI-enabled appliances.
Kim Yong-jae, Vice President of Samsung Electronics’ Digital Appliance (DA) Business Division, stated that Bixby is continuously evolving to facilitate natural conversations with users, making the products easier to use. It aims to further enhance its capabilities, enabling Samsung’s AI appliances to serve as true companions in the home.
