- Perplexity AI’s voice assistant is now available on iPhones, offering real-time web browsing, smart answers, and app integrations.
- It can help with tasks like booking cabs or dinner reservations, but can’t yet handle system-level actions like setting alarms — you’ll still need Siri for that.
- Compatible with older iPhones, the assistant uses leading LLMs like OpenAI and Gemini, and supports quick access via home or lock screen shortcuts.
Perplexity AI’s voice assistant has officially landed on iPhones — and it’s giving serious competition to Siri when it comes to answering questions, browsing the web in real-time, and even helping with tasks like booking a cab or finding a restaurant. But here’s the catch: you’ll still need Apple’s built-in assistant to do basic things like set an alarm or adjust volume.
The launch brings Perplexity’s conversational, search-savvy AI to iOS users for the first time, after gaining traction on Android. It comes with a sleeker voice interface, support for natural dialogue, and access to live information with cited sources. In other words, it’s a tool built for people who want answers, not endless search tabs. Just don’t ask it to set a reminder. Yet.
Perplexity AI has officially launched its voice assistant for iPhone users. This update brings the AI-powered assistant, previously available only on Android, to iOS devices, allowing users to perform various tasks through voice commands.
A New Contender in the Voice Assistant Arena
Perplexity’s voice assistant integrates with multiple apps and services, enabling users to draft emails, set reminders, make dinner reservations, and book rides. For instance, when asked to book a table at a restaurant, the assistant can open Open Table, pre-fill the reservation details, and guide the user through the remaining steps. Similarly, it can launch the Uber app and set up a ride based on voice prompts.
One of the standout features is the assistant’s ability to continue functioning even when users navigate away from the app, a capability not commonly found in other voice assistants. However, it’s worth noting that, unlike its Android counterpart, the iOS version doesn’t support screen sharing or access to the device’s camera for contextual awareness.
Moreover, it can also access the user’s calendar to provide information about upcoming appointments or set reminders directly in Apple’s Reminders app.
Perplexity’s voice assistant is also compatible with older iPhone models, such as the iPhone 13, ensuring that a broader user base can benefit from its features.
You Probably Still Need Siri
With Perplexity AI entering iPhones, do you still need Siri? The answer to this question is, yes.
While the new voice assistant can perform a range of tasks, it doesn’t have the capability to modify native iPhone features like scheduled alarms, which still necessitate the use of Siri.
To enhance accessibility, users can add the Perplexity voice assistant as a shortcut on their home or lock screen. This feature allows for quick activation and interaction, streamlining the user experience. The assistant leverages large language models from OpenAI, Google’s Gemini, Anthropic’s Claude, and xAI’s Grok, ensuring a robust and versatile AI foundation.
