Galaxy S8 and beyond: Samsung bets big on Bixby's AI

The company confirms its AI assistant will have its own side button on the S8. Eventually, you'll be able to boss it around on more than just a phone. What's Samsung planning to do with you?" Bixby is Samsung's new digital voice assistant, and it will debut on the upcoming Galaxy S8. It will have its own dedicated button on the side of the phone, letting you communicate with the artificial intelligence in a sort of a walkie-talkie way. But Samsung's plan for Bixby, which it views as a "bright sidekick" to control your phone, doesn't stop there, said Injong Rhee, head of R&D for Samsung's mobile software and services operations. Injong Rhee, Samsung's head of R&D for mobile software and services, has led the development of Bixby. "We start off with the phone and can quickly expand into other devices," said Rhee, a Samsung exec known for his loose locks and casual style. Bixby is the latest entrant in the crowded field of digital assistants that already includes Apple's Siri, Amazon's Alexa, Google Assistant and Microsoft's Cortana. Every tech heavyweight is investing in these assistants because they're heralded as the future of how we'll interact with our gadgets. The hope is to build a relationship with you now and ultimately get you to buy more of their products later. Samsung believes artificial intelligence is the next major wave of computing, and Bixby is the manifestation of that belief. Gartner reckons that by 2019, digital assistants will be the primary way consumers interact with their smart homes. Instead of being able to answer questions like "What's the weather today," Bixby will help you control your phone. You'll be able to do things like say, "Find a photo of the Sagrada Familia.