Perplexity AI Challenges Siri with New Voice Assistant: A Game Changer for iPhone Users?
Is Perplexity AI about to shake up the AI assistant landscape on your iPhone? The rising AI-powered search engine is making waves with its new voice assistant feature, directly challenging the dominance of Apple's Siri. But can it really replace Siri, and what makes it so different?
Perplexity, known for its conversational answers synthesized from multiple sources, recently launched its voice assistant on iOS. Author Amanda Caswell of Tom's Guide, a self-proclaimed daily Perplexity user, highlights its ability to provide concise, well-sourced information as a key differentiator. “The way Perplexity delivers summarized responses with cited sources, makes me trust the search engine because not only do I know where the answers came from, but I can click further and fact check on my own, if necessary,” Caswell states.
According to a ZDNET report the new Perplexity voice assistant can perform various tasks traditionally handled by Siri. You can ask Perplexity to set reminders, schedule calendar events, play music from Apple Music, open podcasts, and get directions via Apple Maps. The AI seamlessly interacts with the relevant app, displaying results efficiently. For instance, asking about next week's appointments prompts the AI to scan your calendar and present them both verbally and visually.
However, it's not without its limitations. As Lance Whitney from ZDNET points out, Perplexity cannot directly send text messages. Still, this first attempt at deeper system integration is impressing many.
What makes Perplexity's approach particularly clever is its utilization of existing Apple APIs. As Federico Viticci from MacStories notes, Perplexity integrates with frameworks like EventKit for reminders, MapKit for locations, and MusicKit for Apple Music. This means any third-party iOS developer could potentially achieve similar functionality.
The integration goes beyond mere functionality; it aims to provide a truly conversational experience. Viticci describes a scenario where he asked both Siri and Perplexity complex questions. While Siri stumbled, Perplexity provided accurate, context-aware answers. “You see, we’re not talking about some random generative AI slop here: we’re dealing with practical questions that, at this point in 2025, I would expect any modern AI assistant to answer reliably and quickly using a variety of tools at its disposal,” he emphasizes.
Despite its potential, Perplexity's voice assistant isn't perfect. It sometimes fails to add due dates for reminders and lacks integration with HomeKit and other Siri-exclusive functionalities. Yet, its arrival signals a shift in user expectations. In a post-LLM world, we expect AI assistants to understand natural language, retain context, and seamlessly integrate with apps and services.
Perplexity has chosen to integrate the rest of iOS giving users an early glimpse of what a truly integrated AI assistant can accomplish. Will Apple step up its game, or will users increasingly turn to third-party AI solutions?
What are your thoughts on Perplexity's new voice assistant? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below.
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