Samsung Bixby is featuring a new capability on one's smartphone that would allow users to answer calls and talk to colleagues, friends, or family without having to speak. This is with the latest rollout of the One UI 5 which also brings improvements to the Bixby AI assistant on Samsung smartphones, called the "Text Call" feature.
It is similar to what Pixel offers, one which centers on the "Type to Talk" feature that allows a system-generated voice to speak on one's behalf.
Samsung Bixby: Text Call Feature is Available in One UI 5
The famous South Korean tech manufacturer detailed in their latest press release that there are significant enhancements to Bixby in this latest release of the One UI 5 interface. One of its top highlights for Bixby is the "Text Call" feature that allows users to record their voice via the AI system and use it as the one that responds whenever there is a call in progress.
Users may set this up when already updated to the latest UI and OS, where they need to record their voice for the AI to take note of, and use for future references.
Samsung owners may opt to use this feature if they do not feel like speaking, where their voice would still be used to speak, but typing in the message they wish to relay to the other party.
The company first revealed this at last year's unveiling of the One UI 5.
There's a Catch with Bixby's Text Call Feature
There is a catch on Bixby's Text Call feature, and it centers on the limited availability of this AI answering machine which is only accepting the Korean language at the present.
Samsung said that this voice generator would also be available for other apps and experiences, not only via the call feature.
Integration for other languages would arrive soon for all, under the One UI 5.
Samsung's Bixby AI Assistant
Samsung went on to create a voice assistant for its smartphones, foregoing that of Google's "Google Assistant" s present on Android-powered devices. Initially, Samsung created two AI assistants to give the world assistance, centering on Bixby as the male version, and Kestra as the female version which debuted in 2016.
Ultimately, Samsung stuck with Bixby for all the voice assistant features it brings for its users, a direct competitor to Apple's Siri which was one of the most famous during this time.
However, in current standings among voice assistants as per MKBHD's test, Google Assistant is one of the most advanced and responsive, with Alexa being the worst, and Siri and Bixby venturing in the middle.
Bixby is what Samsung users have for a voice assistant and there is no changing that for the default features of the device, but they may still access the likes of Google Assistant and Alexa on their devices. However, Samsung puts Bixby in the spotlight of One UI 5, featuring a presently-limited Text Call feature to speak on one's behalf.
