Perplexity AI, a rising player in the artificial intelligence assistant arena, is making significant strides toward expanding its presence on Android devices. The company has reportedly secured a deal with Motorola to integrate its AI assistant into the brand’s smartphones. Additionally, Perplexity is in early discussions with Samsung Electronics Co. to offer its assistant as an alternative to existing options like Google’s Gemini and Samsung’s Bixby. Find out more about possible Perplexity AI on Samsung and Motorola phones below.

The Samsung talks are early, while the Motorola tie-up will be announced this month, said the sources, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private. Motorola is hosting a product event in New York City on Apr 24, where it plans to discuss the partnership.

The details of the Samsung deal are still being hashed out, the sources said. The terms could involve offering Perplexity as a default AI assistant option or preloading the startup’s Android app on phones. Samsung, the worldwide smartphone market leader, could also promote the assistant heavily as an option within the Galaxy Store, where users download apps.

Spokespeople for Perplexity, Samsung, and Motorola declined to comment.

Samsung & Perplexity

A deal with Perplexity is complicated by Samsung’s wide-ranging partnership with Alphabet, which powers many of the AI features on Samsung devices and provides the default search engine. But Samsung has been fostering a relationship with Perplexity for months. The South Korea-based company’s investment arm, called Next, backed the startup last year.

Samsung is discussing making another investment in Perplexity in the near future, the sources said. The startup has been in broader talks with investors for a new round of funding, which would double its valuation to US$18 billion. It has discussed raising between US$500 million and US$1 billion, Bloomberg News reported in March.

Perplexity & Motorola

The Motorola deal will include Perplexity being preloaded as an alternative assistant to Google’s Gemini. There will also be a tailored user interface for Motorola’s updated Razr foldable phones. And marketing from the device maker will encourage customers to try Perplexity.

Today, Motorola offers its own homegrown AI system and access to Google Gemini. Samsung takes a similar approach, providing its Bixby service alongside Google’s AI platform.

Perplexity AI: Real-Time Research Assistant with Multimodal Superpowers

Founded in 2022, Perplexity has gained popularity for real-time results and a search engine-like user interface. The assistant has the ability to surface in-depth research, and Perplexity can tap into models beyond its own, including those from OpenAI and Anthropic PBC.

The Perplexity Assistant is designed to handle a variety of tasks, including answering general queries, composing emails, setting reminders, and making reservations. It boasts multimodal capabilities, allowing users to interact with on-screen content and utilize the device’s camera for object identification. The assistant also integrates with popular apps such as Uber, Spotify, and YouTube.

What Sets Perplexity AI Apart from Gemini, ChatGPT, and Bixby

Perplexity AI distinguishes itself through its real-time, citation-based search capabilities. Unlike ChatGPT, which excels in creative content generation, and Gemini, known for its integration with Google’s ecosystem, Perplexity focuses on delivering concise, well-sourced answers by aggregating information from the web. This approach provides users with transparent and up-to-date responses, making it particularly useful for research and fact-checking tasks.​

While Bixby offers deep integration with Samsung devices and services, it lacks the extensive real-time web search capabilities that Perplexity provides. Perplexity’s user interface emphasizes clarity and ease of access to information, catering to users who prioritize accurate and current data over conversational interaction.

For San Francisco-based Perplexity, securing Motorola and Samsung deals would be a major boon to building its brand and gaining popularity in the US, where ChatGPT and Gemini are more established. While Motorola’s market share is slim in the smartphone industry, the company is making strides. Samsung, for its part, has a share of about 20 percent globally, according to data from IDC. Perplexity AI on Samsung and Motorola phones

As the landscape of AI assistants continues to evolve, Perplexity’s efforts to collaborate with major smartphone manufacturers like Motorola and Samsung underscore its ambition to become a prominent player in the mobile AI space.

Earlier this year, Perplexity announced a deal with Deutsche Telekom in Europe for an AI-centric phone. For that device, which will be unveiled later this year, Perplexity will be providing the underlying AI technology.