On Thursday, Jeff Bezos-backed Perplexity launched its AI-powered mobile assistant for Android users.
What Happened: Perplexity has introduced its AI-powered mobile assistant on Android, aiming to rival Alphabet Inc.'s GOOG GOOGL Google with its multimodal capabilities.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Google's AI assistant now supports completing tasks across multiple apps and handling multimodal requests at Samsung’s unveiling of the Gemini-powered Galaxy S25.
Now Perplexity has announced that its assistant can handle tasks like writing emails, setting reminders, and booking dinners. It can interact with what’s on a user's screen and use their camera to “see” the environment.
The assistant also plays media, such as podcasts, and identifies objects using the phone’s camera.
However, the assistant has limitations. It currently supports apps like Spotify, YouTube, and Uber, but cannot access platforms like Slack or Reddit. The company said that more app support and functionalities are in development.
Users can activate the assistant through the Perplexity app, replacing their default assistant. It is not yet available for iPhone users.
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Why It Matters: Last year, Perplexity raised $500 million, tripling its valuation to $9 billion. This funding round was led by Institutional Venture Partners and highlights the company’s rapid expansion and increased market share in AI search.
Previously, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas also spoke about efforts to disrupt the duopoly of Google and Meta Platforms Inc. META in the search and advertising sectors.
At the time, he said that consumer behavior was evolving from basic keyword searches to more intricate queries. This makes platforms like Perplexity increasingly attractive to advertisers seeking more meaningful engagement.
Earlier this month, Perplexity reportedly made a $50 billion bid to merge with TikTok U.S., aiming to improve its video capabilities. This move, if successful, could significantly bolster Perplexity’s position in the tech industry.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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