Perplexity’s AI Assistant Lands On iPhones. Who Needs Apple Intelligence Anyways?

While Apple’s Intelligence features remain MIA on many devices running iOS 18, Perplexity is seizing the moment. The San Francisco-based startup has rolled out a major update to its iOS app, introducing a conversational AI voice assistant designed to make your daily digital chores smoother — no Apple Intelligence required.

The AI assistant is capable of handling a range of everyday tasks — writing emails, setting reminders, booking cabs, and even reserving a table for dinner — by integrating with third-party services. What’s more, the assistant can maintain voice conversations even when the app is running in the background, making it a strong alternative to Siri in several respects. The new features are currently available to users on the free tier, though that access may be time-limited.

Multitasking Like a Pro: Voice in the Background

One of the standout updates is support for uninterrupted voice interaction even if the app isn’t front and centre. That means users can, say, ask the assistant to draft a message or look up a podcast, all while scrolling Instagram or replying to texts.

Users with an iPhone Action button get an extra perk — they can programme it to launch the assistant directly, bypassing the need to open the app. From there, sending emails defaults to Apple Mail, while tunes are handled via Apple Music.

Real-Time Knowledge Engine with a Catch

Perplexity’s AI also taps into real-time information sources. Whether you’re looking for the latest news, a YouTube video, or an interesting podcast episode, the assistant pulls content on demand. However, there’s a caveat: live camera input isn’t part of the deal — yet.

Users can upload images and ask questions about them, but competitors like Google’s Gemini or Elon Musk’s Grok have the upper hand when it comes to real-time visual analysis.

Siri, Meet Your Competition

This update puts Perplexity in direct competition with Siri — though not on a level playing field. Apple limits deep system-level access to its own assistant, so while Perplexity can handle many tasks, it can’t fully replace Siri just yet.

Still, the Siri-like experience Perplexity offers, especially its conversational continuity and multi-app actions, positions it as a compelling alternative.

iOS users can update the app now and begin using the new voice assistant, provided they grant the necessary permissions. Android users, however, will have to wait — there’s no word yet on when the update will reach Google’s platform.