Bixby
Bixby is a digital assistant developed by Samsung Electronics. It was first introduced in March 2017 alongside the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus smartphones. Here is detailed information about Bixby:
History and Development
- Bixby was designed to help users interact more intuitively with their devices. It was named after the fictional character Bixby Grant from the American sitcom M*A*S*H*.
- The development of Bixby was a response to the growing market of voice-activated assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa. Samsung acquired Viv Labs in 2016, which was co-founded by the creators of Siri, to enhance its AI capabilities for Bixby.
- The initial release of Bixby included support for English and Korean, with plans to expand to other languages.
Features
- Bixby Voice: Users can activate Bixby with a voice command or by pressing a dedicated Bixby button on supported devices. It can perform tasks, answer questions, and control device settings through voice commands.
- Bixby Vision: This feature utilizes the camera to provide information about the real world, such as identifying objects, translating text, or providing information about landmarks.
- Bixby Home: A dashboard where users can see personalized information, suggestions, and reminders based on their usage patterns.
- Bixby Routines: Allows users to set up automated actions based on specific triggers, like time of day or location.
Integration and Availability
- Bixby is deeply integrated into Samsung's ecosystem, including smartphones, smart TVs, and home appliances.
- It has been expanded to work with various Samsung Galaxy devices beyond smartphones, including Samsung Gear S3 and Samsung Tablets.
- Bixby is available in multiple languages now, with ongoing efforts to expand its linguistic capabilities.
Challenges and Reception
- Upon its release, Bixby received mixed reviews. Some praised its integration with Samsung devices, while others criticized its accuracy, language support, and the mandatory Bixby button.
- There was some user backlash regarding the dedicated Bixby button, which could not be easily repurposed, leading to updates allowing users to remap the button or disable it.
Future Developments
- Samsung continues to update Bixby, enhancing its AI capabilities, improving natural language processing, and expanding its functionality across more devices and services.
- Integration with Samsung SmartThings and other IoT platforms is a key focus to make Bixby a central hub for smart home control.
For more information and updates:
See Also