Perplexity's New iOS Voice Assistant Works Where Siri Still Can't - MacRumors
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Perplexity's New iOS Voice Assistant Works Where Siri Still Can't

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Perplexity has updated its iOS app with a new Voice Assistant feature, bringing conversational AI capabilities to Apple devices, including older iPhones and iPads that don't support Apple Intelligence. The update allows iPhone users to interact with Perplexity's AI assistant through voice commands even when navigating away from the app.

perplexity ai mac
The Voice Assistant can perform various tasks such as the following, given the requisite user permissions:

  • Drafting and sending emails
  • Sending messages and making calls
  • Controlling smart home devices
  • Providing Apple Maps directions and traffic updates
  • Setting reminders
  • Booking Ubers
  • Scheduling and editing Calendar events
  • Playing Podcasts, including search and subscribe
  • Playing music and videos
  • Answering general knowledge questions
  • Making reservations via booking sites

Voice Assistant can browse the web and perform multi-app actions to complete these functions directly from the Perplexity iOS app.


The update includes a shortcut for Voice Assistant that can be added to the Lock Screen or assigned to an iPhone's Action button, making Perplexity a viable substitute for some of Apple Intelligence's delayed conversational AI enhancements for Siri, which are still likely months away from release.

Perplexity leverages the power of large language models like OpenAI's GPT-4.1, Google's Gemini 2.5 Pro, Anthropic's Claude 3.7 Sonnet, and xAi's Grok-2. The iOS app currently lacks the screen sharing capability found in the Android version of Perplexity, where the assistant can see and interact with content on the user's screen. Perplexity syncs across devices and is a free download with in-app subscriptions from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

K
kenny7
13 months ago
Why can’t Apple just buy one of these AI companies and replace Siri with it.
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zoozx Avatar
zoozx
13 months ago

Apple can’t do AI because it is run by old people.
It has Nothing to do with Old People. Old thinking maybe.
Greed is what runs this company these days and it shows.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DELLsFan Avatar
DELLsFan
13 months ago
Oh good ... so a third party voice assistant can be listening and lurking in the background while you're on another app on the iPhone?

Not a new concept, but it's almost like no one even cares about their privacy anymore.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KRiWOLF Avatar
KRiWOLF
13 months ago
A few things to note:
1) Requires internet to use and doesn't integrate things like HomeKit etc.
2) Not held to the same auditable privacy standards (if this is important to you)
3) Currently requires a subscription to work best (Apple Int. doesn't, yet)
Not defending the Overhyped Apple Intelligence at all, but there are key differences in approach, namely privacy and internet access, which make Apple Int. harder to get working decently.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zoozx Avatar
zoozx
13 months ago
Siri is a JOKE >
Apple should be ASHAMED
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
clg82
13 months ago
This is crazy! I've never heard of such a thing, another assistant doing something Sir CAN'T!!!!!
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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