Perplexity is taking on Google with its new AI assistant for Android. The tool, called Perplexity Assistant, goes beyond answering questions. It aims to help users with everyday tasks in a smarter and more efficient way.
Perplexity AI Assistant: Smart Features for Everyday Use
Cool thing about this is everything stays in context. You can start with a conversation about some question you have and follow up to set an action related to it, e.g., getting an alert ahead of a basketball game. pic.twitter.com/3E6nSADhQ0
— Aravind Srinivas (@AravSrinivas) January 23, 2025
Perplexity Assistant uses advanced AI to handle various tasks. It can make dinner reservations, find songs you’ve forgotten, draft emails, and set reminders. Its features include making calls, working with apps, and understanding context.
For example, it can search for nearby restaurants, set up a reminder, or even identify objects using your phone’s camera. These tools are designed to make life easier and interactions with your device more seamless.
Demonstrations Highlight Capabilities
Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity, shared demos of the assistant on X (formerly Twitter). In these, the assistant showed its ability to understand user intent and complete tasks.
However, it still has some limitations. For instance, it can’t make reservations if a restaurant isn’t listed on platforms like OpenTable. Perplexity has acknowledged this and is working to expand its capabilities.
Future Updates on the Way
The company plans to integrate the assistant with Calendar and Gmail. Soon, it will be able to summarize emails and notify users about appointments. These updates will make it more useful for managing daily schedules.
Free and Easy to Use
Perplexity Assistant is free for all users. To get started, download the Perplexity AI app from the Google Play Store. You can set it as your default assistant, replacing Google Assistant. To activate it, simply hold down the power button for a few seconds.
A New Challenge for Google
So, with its advanced features and easy setup, Perplexity Assistant is a strong competitor to Google Assistant. Its focus on helping users with practical tasks could change how Android users interact with their devices. This new AI assistant is a step forward in making technology more intuitive and user-friendly.
