Samsung's Bixby assistant may soon run daily tasks on its own

Samsung's Bixby assistant may soon be able to do a chore for you every day without being asked again. A beta version of the Bixby app contains a new feature called Actions, according to a report from SamMobile that Android Police picked up. It is expected to arrive with One UI 9.5, Samsung's next big software update for Galaxy devices.

What changed

In the screenshots, a user asks Bixby for a daily exchange rate report. Bixby then asks whether it should set this up as a daily task. The user can confirm or cancel. That turns a one-time request into a repeating one. It is the kind of thing Google's Gemini assistant already does with its Scheduled Actions and Gemini Task features.

Samsung improved Bixby earlier this year with natural conversation and better web search. Even so, it has trailed Gemini on tasks that run on their own. Actions looks aimed at closing that gap. The beta also shows how the tasks would be managed:

• An Actions page lists every task you create
• Shortcuts let you pin, delete, or pause and resume a task
• Each task has a screen with an on and off toggle and a way to tweak it
• A task's chat log can be viewed below

What is not known

Plenty is still unclear. Gemini's Scheduled Actions repeat a single prompt, while Gemini Task can handle multistep jobs, monitoring and triggers. The report does not say which of those Bixby's Actions will resemble. The screenshots also show no extra dialog, so changing a task likely means sending Bixby another prompt. All of this comes from a beta app, so details could change before release.

Who it affects

Galaxy owners are the ones to watch. One UI 9.5 is expected in early 2027 and could line up with the Galaxy S27 launch. Most Galaxy phones and tablets that received One UI 9 are expected to get One UI 9.5 as well. The new Bixby could reach select flagships first, such as the Galaxy S26 series, Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8. Samsung may instead keep it exclusive to the Galaxy S27 series at first, depending on timing.

Other changes spotted

• Voice recording for calls on apps like WhatsApp, Messenger and Viber, with supported apps unconfirmed
• A Pixel Screenshots-like app called Memory, for searching text and data in screenshots
• New Samsung Keyboard tools, including a shortening tool and built-in translation