Perplexity, the San Francisco-based AI company, has unveiled a significant update for its iOS app, introducing a conversational artificial intelligence (AI) voice assistant. The move seeks to fill the gap left by the absence of Apple Intelligence features in the much-anticipated iOS 18 update, offering iPhone users a powerful alternative for voice-based interactions.
The newly launched AI assistant can handle a variety of everyday tasks, including setting reminders, composing emails, booking taxis, and even arranging restaurant appointments via third-party applications. This expansion of features marks a bold step for Perplexity, as it positions itself as a serious contender in the rapidly evolving world of mobile AI technology.
A particularly attractive feature of the update is the ability for users to continue their voice conversations with the AI even when the Perplexity app is running in the background. Notably, these functions are available to users on the free tier, although access may be limited over time.
What’s new in the Perplexity iOS app update?
Among the standout additions is support for multi-app actions, enabling the AI to book a ride through services such as Uber directly. Furthermore, iPhone owners with the Action button on their devices can now configure it to launch the Perplexity voice assistant instantly, bypassing the need to manually open the app.
When it comes to handling tasks such as playing music or sending emails, the assistant defaults to Apple Music and Apple Mail, ensuring a smooth and familiar experience for iOS users.
Perplexity’s update also strengthens its information retrieval capabilities. The AI can fetch real-time data and pull content from platforms such as YouTube and various podcast directories, allowing users to access and engage with media and information swiftly. However, the service still lags behind competitors like Gemini or Grok in one area: real-time camera input. At present, users can upload images and ask the assistant questions based on them, but live video analysis remains unavailable.
A new rival for Siri?
The update gives the Perplexity app a Siri-like feel, establishing it as a credible alternative to Apple’s native voice assistant. However, there are important limitations to bear in mind. Apple continues to reserve deeper system-level access for Siri, meaning the Perplexity assistant cannot fully replace Apple’s own offering.
Despite this, the latest changes dramatically enhance Perplexity’s relevance within the Apple ecosystem. For users who have been seeking a more versatile or experimental AI experience, particularly in light of the limited rollout of Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18, Perplexity’s offering is both timely and compelling.
Availability and outlook
iPhone users can update their Perplexity app now to access the new voice assistant. The setup requires granting certain permissions, particularly for background activity and multi-app integration, but the process is straightforward for most users familiar with iOS permissions.
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As it stands, there is no word yet on when, or if, these features will make their way to Android devices. Perplexity has not provided a timeline for Android compatibility, leaving Android users to wait while iOS users benefit from the expanded functionality.
The introduction of this conversational AI assistant demonstrates Perplexity’s growing ambition to challenge the established players in the AI field. By focusing on practical integrations and maintaining a user-friendly approach, the company is well-placed to capitalise on the current interest in AI-driven personal assistants.
As more users explore Perplexity’s new features, it remains to be seen whether Apple will respond by accelerating its own AI offerings — but one thing is clear: the race to dominate the next generation of mobile AI assistants is well and truly underway.
