Perplexity now has a mobile assistant on Android.

Perplexity’s AI “Answer Engine” Turns into a Mobile Assistant on Android

Perplexity has transformed its AI “answer engine” into a mobile assistant on Android, capable of answering general questions and performing tasks on your behalf. The new assistant can write an email, set a reminder, book dinners, and more.

Multimodal Capabilities

The assistant is also multimodal, allowing you to ask questions about what’s on your screen as well as have it open your camera and “see” what’s in front of you. For example, a user asked the assistant to “get me a ride.” Once it learned where the user wanted to go, the assistant automatically opened Uber with available rides to that destination.

Hands-on Experience

I tried out the assistant and found it to be quite impressive. When I asked it to “open up a good podcast,” my phone started playing the latest episode of The Joe Rogan Experience on YouTube. It worked quickly, even though its taste may be questionable.

Camera Functionality

Using my phone’s camera, the assistant successfully identified the promotional Pokémon pack I got in a McDonald’s Happy Meal (don’t judge), which I found impressive since the promotion only started a couple of days ago. It also helped me write and send a text to a family member using the information in my contacts.

Limitations

While the assistant is impressive, it’s not able to access every app and feature. It’s not able to access Slack or Reddit, for example, and I also couldn’t use it to leave a comment on a YouTube video. Right now, the assistant supports Spotify, YouTube, and Uber, along with email, messaging, and clock apps.

Future Development

Perplexity spokesperson Sara Platick stated that the company is continuing to add support for more apps and more functionality, so this is just the starting point.

Enabling the Assistant

You can enable the assistant through the Perplexity app, which prompts you to replace your phone’s default assistant with Perplexity. From there, you can swipe up on the left corner of your screen or hold down your home button to access the assistant.

Availability

The assistant is currently only available on Android devices. If Apple gives Perplexity the right permissions, they will make it available on iPhone devices as well.

Conclusion

Perplexity’s AI “answer engine” has transformed into a mobile assistant on Android, offering impressive multimodal capabilities and task completion. While it has some limitations, the company is continuing to develop and improve the assistant. If you’re an Android user, you may want to give it a try and see what it can do for you.

FAQs

Q: What apps does the assistant support?
A: The assistant currently supports Spotify, YouTube, and Uber, along with email, messaging, and clock apps.

Q: Can I use the assistant on my iPhone?
A: No, the assistant is currently only available on Android devices. However, if Apple gives Perplexity the right permissions, they will make it available on iPhone devices as well.

Q: Can I access every app and feature with the assistant?
A: No, the assistant is not able to access every app and feature. It’s not able to access Slack or Reddit, for example, and I also couldn’t use it to leave a comment on a YouTube video.

Q: How do I enable the assistant?
A: You can enable the assistant through the Perplexity app, which prompts you to replace your phone’s default assistant with Perplexity. From there, you can swipe up on the left corner of your screen or hold down your home button to access the assistant.