Perplexity Unveils AI Assistant for Android: Revolutionizing Mobile Productivity

Perplexity Launches AI-Powered Mobile Assistant for Android

Perplexity, the AI technology company, has unveiled its latest innovation: an AI-powered “answer engine” now available as a mobile assistant for Android devices. This new assistant offers a range of functionalities, from answering questions to performing tasks such as composing emails, setting reminders, and making dinner reservations.

The multimodal nature of the assistant allows users to interact with on-screen content and utilize the device’s camera for visual queries. In a practical demonstration, the assistant showcased its ability to book a ride by opening the Uber app and presenting available options after learning the user’s intended destination.

The assistant’s capabilities extend to entertainment and media consumption. Users can request the playback of podcasts, as evidenced by the assistant successfully playing an episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience” on YouTube. Additionally, the AI can identify objects through the camera, exemplified by its recognition of promotional Pokémon cards from a McDonald’s Happy Meal.

Communication features are also integrated, with the assistant able to send text messages using contact information stored on the user’s phone.

Currently, the Perplexity assistant supports popular apps such as Spotify, YouTube, Uber, email clients, messaging platforms, and clock applications. However, it does have limitations, lacking support for some widely-used apps like Slack and Reddit, and unable to perform actions such as commenting on YouTube videos. Perplexity has stated that they are actively working to expand app support and enhance functionality.

To access the assistant, users need to download the Perplexity app and set it as their default assistant on Android devices. The AI can then be activated by swiping up from the left corner of the screen or holding the home button.

It’s worth noting that this assistant is not currently available for iPhone users, with its potential availability dependent on Apple’s permissions for third-party assistants.

As AI continues to integrate into daily mobile use, Perplexity’s new assistant represents a significant step in bringing advanced AI capabilities to Android users’ fingertips.