Perplexity’s AI Voice Assistant Launches on iOS Devices

Perplexity’s conversational AI voice assistant has officially landed on iOS, expanding its availability beyond Android and offering Apple users a powerful hands-free tool to manage everyday tasks. With the latest app update, iPhone and iPad users can now ask Perplexity to help with activities like writing emails, setting reminders, making restaurant reservations, and even booking rides—directly through the app. Once updated from the App Store, users can activate the voice assistant and issue spoken commands. Perplexity performs actions such as sending calendar invites or opening other apps like Uber or OpenTable, depending on the request. While some functions, like completing reservations, require the user to finalize steps manually, the assistant streamlines much of the process. What makes this assistant particularly notable is its compatibility with older Apple devices, such as the iPhone 13 mini, unlike Apple’s upcoming AI features which are expected to be exclusive to newer hardware. Also, while Siri's advanced AI upgrades under the Apple Intelligence umbrella are still in development, Perplexity already offers many of those promised capabilities. Despite its versatility, the assistant has some limitations on iOS. It lacks screen-sharing support and cannot access the camera to interpret visual information, something other AI tools like ChatGPT and Grok can do. Additionally, it doesn’t have permission to change core iPhone settings or set native alarms, so users still need Siri for those functions. The journey to iOS was delayed as the company awaited necessary permissions from Apple, but those hurdles appear to be resolved. Perplexity users are now able to enjoy a more fluid, interactive mobile experience with the AI’s voice-driven capabilities, making multitasking and managing information quicker and more intuitive. As the AI landscape rapidly evolves, Perplexity’s proactive steps in bridging platform gaps highlight its focus on accessibility and user convenience, positioning it as a strong alternative or complement to native digital assistants.