“Instead of humans learning how the machine interacts with the world, it is the machine that needs to learn and adapt to us.”
This was stated by In Jong Rhee, Samsung’s executive VP and head of research and development for software and services. Rhee strives for a future that allows a more natural relationship between AI and user, and Samsung designed the newest smartphone assistant based on this concept.
Samsung Bixby is structured upon the idea that smartphones nowadays are complicated. So instead of having to worry about learning new technology, Bixby learns about us to make our lives easier. This is one of the key differences when comparing Bixby to other assistants such as Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa.
As long as you have a solid internet connection, the new Samsung assistant is readily available at any time to help you by minimizing the amount of steps it takes to perform a task. But what exactly can Samsung Bixby do? Let’s take a look.
Samsung Bixby Vision
Probably one of the coolest features of Bixby, the Bixby Vision offers a whole new way for your phone to interact with your visual surroundings. Using the camera, Bixby can scan whatever’s in front of you and perform many useful functions.
Provide information
Let’s say you’re curious about a bottle of wine, but don’t know where to start. You can scan the label with Bixby Vision and ask Bixby for information. The Samsung assistant will tell you about the wine including origin, definition, taste, cost, and other details.
Online Shopping
You might come across a flower, and decide you would like to purchase it if possible. Again, using Bixby Vision and the “shopping” option, Bixby can give you a list of the flower as well as similar alternatives that are for sale on websites partnered with Samsung.
Nearby Suggestions
You can also ask Samsung Bixby for suggestions about nearby restaurants, bars, and other venues. Simply show Bixby any landmark, and it’ll recommend you a list of options in your vicinity.
Translate Foreign Text
Another really neat feature of Bixby Vision is its ability to translate text via image. That’s right, you don’t have to type in the foreign text. Simply show it to Bixby, and he’ll decipher it using Google Translate. Very useful when traveling to foreign countries!
Touch-to-Voice Flexibility
Competing AI smartphone assistants such as Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa are currently isolated, meaning they do not allow you to verbally request a command, then follow it up with touch commands or vice versa. Bixby however, picks up where you left off. Whether you want to tap, talk, or both, Bixby does not discriminate and allows you to do as you wish when performing tasks.
Context Awareness
One of Samsung Bixby’s most impressive feature is its awareness of current progress on your device. In the middle of a task, you can call upon Bixby, and it will gather information on its own to complete the task you were performing. This is a huge difference when contesting Bixby vs. Siri, arguably the most well-known smartphone assistant.
Cognitive Tolerance
Another feature of Bixby that will help you finish what you started is what Samsung refers to as cognitive tolerance. Samsung’s Bixby can understand what you’re trying to say, even if you don’t. It can still incorporate incomplete information and provide solutions or commands that will get you back on the right track.
App Compatibility
Currently, Samsung Bixby’s potential is limited because it is fairly new. The applications that the assistant is compatible with are few at the moment. However, on Bixby-enabled apps, the Samsung assistant can perform every task possible on that application. While some AI assistants can only commit to a few application tasks, Bixby’s completeness sets it apart from its competitors.
Future of Bixby
Samsung Bixby, Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa, Google’s Assistant, and Microsoft’s Cortana are now the biggest AI assistants, and it’s simply amazing what these programs can do. Bixby, being the newest to the team, has certainly brought excitement to the table.
Bixby is still in its early stages, but Samsung has big hopes for it to be programmed into all of its products, from washing machines and refrigerators to computers and cars. According to Rhee, Bixby will be the core to the unity of all Samsung smart products.
The Galaxy S8 is hitting stores in the U.S. on April 20th, and, with Bixby, the hype is real. If you’ve ever seen the movie, “Her,” (great movie by the way) Bixby’s potential reminds me of the capabilities of Samantha, the OS (voiced by Scarlett Johansson). Samsung’s Bixby proves to be smart, competent, and committed to maximizing efficiency for its user. I can’t wait to see how Samsung