FILE PHOTO: Perplexity AI’s voice assistant is coming to its iOS app, CEO Aravind Srinivas announced yesterday.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Perplexity AI’s voice assistant is coming to its iOS app, CEO Aravind Srinivas announced yesterday. Even as Apple readies its revamped Apple Intelligence powered- Siri assistant, Perplexity offers a viable alternative.
The update was previously limited to Android users.
“You can ask it to play anything: podcasts, hard to find videos, favorite songs. Even things like “play me the video of Katy Perry kissing the ground after landing from the rocket”, or “baby shark donald trump version”, or “podcast where andreessen discusses browsers with lex,” Srinivas said on X while sharing the news.
It can also schedule a meeting via Apple Calendar or send a mail via Apple Mail although Srinivas mentions that the feature is still a little “janky.” The AI assistant can also look up for a restaurant you want to go to and book a cab ride from Uber.
Once the app is open, users can click on the microphone icon and then start talking.
Users can also continue speaking with the voice assistant even if they’re away from the app. Additionally, the app also works for slightly older iPhone models like the iPhone 13 unlike Apple Intelligence which is only present for models iPhone 15 Pro onwards.
The assistant still can’t access the phone camera and offer context for a picture, a feature which is available in ChatGPT. It also doesn’t have the ability to access iPhone settings and mute notifications or set alarms.
Srinivas also informed users that it takes between 3 to 4 seconds to connect with the assistant after you enable voice mode adding that they’re working to shorten this time gap.
“You can customize your Action button on your iPhone to Perplexity Voice Mode to use this without having to open the app, just like how you use Siri,” he noted.
Recent reports have revealed that the new Siri has been delayed even further until 2026 as Apple shakes up their leadership.
Published – April 25, 2025 01:09 pm IST