Perplexity, the AI powered search engine shaking up how we interact with information, has launched a bold new tool: Perplexity Assistant. Described as an “agent,” this feature leverages reasoning, search, and app integration to help users tackle daily tasks seamlessly.
Available for Android starting Thursday via the Perplexity app, Perplexity Assistant isn’t just another chatbot. It’s designed for multi app actions think hailing a ride or searching for your favorite song all powered by Perplexity’s expansive search engine.
What Makes Perplexity Assistant Different?
The key lies in its web-connected intelligence. Need to double check an event’s time? Perplexity Assistant can not only find the details but also create a calendar entry for you. It even goes multimodal, using your phone’s camera to analyze what’s around you or what’s on your screen.
More impressively, Perplexity Assistant maintains context across tasks. For example, you could ask it to find restaurants nearby and then reserve a table all in one smooth conversation.
Rolling Out Globally (With Some Hiccups)
Perplexity Assistant will initially be free for users in 15 languages, including English, Spanish, French, and Japanese. But Perplexity isn’t pretending it’s perfect. CEO Srinivas noted on X that some features may not work consistently, though the company promises rapid improvements in the coming months.
Skepticism isn’t unwarranted. Perplexity has launched features before that felt rushed. For instance, its shopping tool intended to let users order products directly often stumbled in performance during early tests.
A Busy Time for Perplexity
The launch of Perplexity Assistant follows the debut of Sonar, an API that enables developers to embed Perplexity’s generative AI search capabilities into their apps. The company also recently acquired Read.cv, a social media platform for professionals.
Since its founding in 2022, Perplexity has skyrocketed in growth. With over $500 million in VC funding and a valuation of $9 billion, the search engine now handles more than 100 million queries each week.
But rapid growth hasn’t come without challenges. Perplexity is embroiled in legal disputes with publishers, including lawsuits from Dow Jones and The New York Post, alleging improper use of their content. The company has defended its practices, emphasizing its revenue-sharing program for publishers, but tensions remain high.
