According to a report, the newer version of the AI-powered virtual assistant Bixby 2.0 could not update apps, show YouTube subscriptions, check for a software update, among other tasks.
Highlights:
- Bixby 2.0 could not update apps, show YouTube subscriptions
- Galaxy Note 8 on Oreo can pull up the Uber app, the Note 9 can’t: Report
- Same commands fail on a Galaxy Note 9 running Oreo as well
Samsung announced the Bixby 2.0 a year ago and pinned a lot of hopes saying that the company is reinventing the digital assistants “from a novelty to an intelligence tool that is a key part of everyone's daily life.” Now it seems that Bixby 2.0 is not intelligent after all because as per a news report, the new version of the AI-powered virtual assistant cannot even follow the commands that the previous version could.
According to SamMobile, users who updated their Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ devices to Android Pie were reportedly complaining of trouble with the Bixby 2.0 working. Earlier it was though that it was the Android Pie update that was responsible for the buggy behaviour, but when the same was experienced with Bixby 2.0 running Android Oreo, it was confirmed that Bixby 2.0 still lacks the edge to compete against other assistants like Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri.
“Samsung made a big deal out of Bixby 2.0 at the Galaxy Note 9 launch, showcasing how the virtual assistant can now have more natural conversations and perform tasks like ordering an Uber purely through voice commands. But while our Note 8 on Oreo can pull up the Uber app when asked, the Note 9 fails to do it. So does the S9+ on Android Pie. Other commands we tested included asking Bixby to update our apps, show YouTube subscriptions, check for a software update, and enable Dolby Atmos, and it fails to perform them all,” SamMobile claims.
Bixby 2.0 differs from the previous version in other ways as well. Since the Galaxy S8 series, Samsung has been incorporating a dedicated physical button to summon the assistant. The button could be annoying for those who don’t use the virtual assistant during regular use. Luckily, customers could disable (or remap) it in case of Bixby 2.0 by using an app called bxActions. However, when you try to use the app to remap Bixby on the Galaxy Note 9 smartphone, it just denies permissions to ‘fully disable’ Bixby.
Earlier, people could remap the Bixby button and to use it for other tasks like muting the phone, taking a screenshot, turning on flashlight or launching any app. Even in the app intro for bxActions on Play Store, the developers warned users not to update the assistant on a newer version. “Samsung does not allow remapping with Bixby 2.0 present in Galaxy Note 9. Do not update Bixby or firmware to Bixby 2.0!,” the description read.
Related Read:
Bixby 2.0 with smart home functionality
Bixby 2.0 cannot be 'fully disabled' on Samsung Galaxy Note 9
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