Samsung adds Vision AI Companion, an AI Bixby, to TVs for real‑time queries
When I paused the latest episode of “The Crown” on my new Samsung TV, a tiny icon popped up and asked if I wanted to know more. That’s the “Vision AI Companion” Samsung is slipping into its TV range. It’s basically Bixby on steroids - a generative-AI upgrade that can actually see what’s on the screen.
The idea is that you can fire off a voice question about a movie, a sports game, or a news clip and get an answer right away, without the usual lag. It sounds impressive, but the real test will be whether it can handle off-the-cuff queries smoothly. Samsung says the system works in real time, so you could pause a drama and instantly get details on the cast, plot twists, or background facts that you’d normally have to Google.
In practice, Vision AI Companion lets you ask about whatever’s playing - “Who is that actor?” or “What’s the score?” - and it replies on the spot. The feature builds on Bixby’s voice base, adding a visual layer that actually interprets the picture in front of you.
Vision AI Companion will let you ask questions about what's on screen in real time. Vision AI Companion is based on an upgraded, generative AI-based version of Samsung's virtual assistant Bixby. Samsung suggests you can use it to ask questions about on-screen content -- what that actor is famous for, who painted that artwork, or what the final score was in a football game.
It can go beyond that though, offering TV and movie recommendations along with cooking advice, travel tips, and local restaurant discovery. It's powered by generative AI, combining various models including Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity, and Samsung says it can handle natural conversation, including context and follow-up questions. Since it's built into the TV, there'll be a visual element to answers too.
Vision AI Companion will become the central hub for Samsung's other AI features, including AI picture optimization and real-time translation. Samsung first announced the feature at the IFA trade show in September, but says it's now available across the company's 2025 TV lineup.
Samsung’s 2025 TVs will ship with a Vision AI Companion that tries to answer what’s happening on screen in real time. It leans on a newer, generative-AI version of Bixby, so you could ask who an actor is or get a quick rundown of a plot while you’re watching. The rollout mentions a handful of languages, which hints at a wide audience, but it’s not clear how well it copes with different accents.
Beyond the basic Q&A, the details get thin - there’s no word on how fast the responses are, what privacy measures are in place, or how it fits into the existing TV settings. Samsung markets it as a conversational layer, yet the depth of its knowledge base is still a mystery. All told, it feels like a step toward more interactive home entertainment, but whether it will become a daily helper or just a gimmick remains to be seen.
I guess we’ll have to try it ourselves and see if it lives up to the hype.
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Common Questions Answered
What is the Vision AI Companion and how does it enhance Samsung's Bixby?
Vision AI Companion is Samsung's upgraded, generative‑AI version of the Bixby virtual assistant. It adds visual understanding to voice commands, allowing the assistant to see what’s playing on the screen and respond with context‑aware information.
How does Vision AI Companion provide real‑time answers about on‑screen content?
The feature analyzes the video feed in real time and uses generative AI to generate answers within seconds. Users can ask about actors, artwork, scores, or plot details, and the system replies without noticeable lag.
What kinds of questions can users ask Vision AI Companion during a sports broadcast?
During a sports broadcast, users can inquire about the current score, player statistics, team rankings, or historical match outcomes. The assistant draws from live visual data and its AI knowledge base to deliver immediate responses.
Which Samsung TV models will receive Vision AI Companion and what language support is promised?
Vision AI Companion rolls out on Samsung's 2025 television lineup, covering all new models released that year. Samsung states the feature supports several languages, though the article notes it does not detail performance with diverse accents.