Perplexity AI continues to be one of the projects to follow very closely in the world of artificial intelligence. Less well-known than ChatGPT or Gemini, the firm will benefit from deeper integration into Motorola smartphones (while waiting for Samsung?) and is even positioning itself to acquire Google Chrome. In the meantime, it is the iOS application that is showing its ambitions by welcoming an AI voice assistant.
Already available on Android, Perplexity's voice assistant is finally arriving on iOS with a different approach than Siri. It offers iPhone users a powerful alternative, especially since the smart version of Siri takes a long time to arrive. Unlike Android devices, Perplexity's voice assistant had to wait before obtaining the necessary permissions from Apple.
Perplexity: the AI voice assistant that shakes up Siri on iPhone
Now, version 2.44.0 of the iOS app allows you to activate this new voice assistant on iPhone and iPad and take advantage of numerous features. It thus becomes possible, via a simple voice command, to set reminders, reserve a restaurant, start a podcast, send emails, add events to the calendar, play music or order a ride, without having to juggling between apps. You will obviously need to allow Perplexity to access various apps to exploit its full potential.
The great news for iPhone owners is that Perplexity is not limited to devices compatible with Apple Intelligence. It is possible to use it on older models, such as the iPhone 13. Another strong point of the assistant is its ability to maintain the thread of a conversation, since it remains active in the background.
One of the strong points of Perplexity is its ability to Maintain the thread of a conversation, even when the user leaves the application to open another: the assistant remains active in the background. It is compatible with more iPhone models than the future Apple Intelligence, since it works from the iPhone 13 and is available in French.
How to activate it?
To use the assistant, simply update the Perplexity application on the App Store, then tap the sound wave icon in the input bar. The application will request the necessary permissions the first time you use it. Note that it is not necessary to subscribe to Perplexity Pro (22 euros/month) to use it.
Limitations to be aware of
Despite its strengths, Perplexity's voice assistant on iOS has some limitations and cannot use the camera to analyze the environment. It also cannot interact with the content displayed on the screen, unlike some competitors like ChatGPT or Gemini. Furthermore, some actions require manual validation (such as confirming a reservation on OpenTable), and sending emails or messages must go through Apple's native applications, excluding third-party services like Gmail, Outlook, or WhatsApp. Finally, the Cupertino company's policy does not allow for a complete replacement of Siri on iOS, and the home assistant retains much more advanced integration with the iPhone. For example, it is not possible to set alarms without Siri.
While waiting for the Siri overhaul announced for 2026, Perplexity is already establishing itself as a credible and innovative alternative that is putting pressure on Apple on the iPhone. Our colleagues at Presse-Citron, who tested Perplexity Assistant on the Apple smartphone, are already won over.
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