Perplexity Transforms into a Voice Assistant for iPhones

The Perplexity application for iPhones has recently undergone an update, enabling the voice assistant feature that was previously announced for Android devices back in January to be utilized on iOS platforms.

iPhone users can now activate the voice assistant within the Perplexity app, allowing them to perform various tasks such as composing emails, setting reminders, and managing restaurant reservations. According to reports on social media, the assistant also offers capabilities to send calendar invitations and play podcasts, YouTube videos, and other media.

Some of these functionalities were initially promised by Apple for the latest version of Siri but have yet to be delivered. Instead of implementing these features, Apple has opted to rely on ChatGPT for more complex inquiries; however, the OpenAI solution on iPhones does not perform tasks comparable to those offered by the Perplexity Assistant. This positions Perplexity as a partial fulfillment of promises made by Apple during the WWDC 2024 event.

Nonetheless, Perplexity on iPhones faces certain limitations, as only Apple's own voice assistant is fully integrated into the operating system, meaning Siri is the only assistant that can be activated via voice commands. Unlike Android, where users can replace the default voice assistant, Apple's policies prevent the substitution of Siri on their devices to maintain control over their platform.

In addition to its iOS expansion, Perplexity aims to position itself as a competitor to Google's Gemini on Android devices. Reports from Bloomberg indicate that the company is in discussions with Samsung and Motorola to integrate their voice assistant into new devices. An agreement with Motorola has reportedly been reached, with the first phones featuring Perplexity set to launch soon. The assistant is expected to be tailored for the newly updated foldable Razr models.

Despite a close partnership with Google and significant financial agreements ensuring Gemini's presence on Galaxy smartphones, there are indications that Samsung may consider adopting Perplexity as well. A court statement from Peter Fitzgerald, Google's Vice President of Platforms and Device Partnerships, suggested that no exclusivity agreement exists.