Perplexity, a rising player in the artificial intelligence landscape, has officially announced the introduction of a new voice assistant designed to enhance user interaction within its iOS app. CEO Aravind Srinivas took to Twitter to share the exciting news, stating that this innovative voice assistant will not only answer questions but will also assist users in various tasks such as composing emails, playing music or shows, and setting alertsall through simple voice commands.

The burgeoning field of AI voice assistants has seen numerous companies unveil or hint at their advancements. However, Perplexitys timing comes at a particularly opportune moment, especially considering the recent challenges faced by Apple with its own AI initiative, dubbed Apple Intelligence. Since its announcement in early 2024, Apple has encountered a series of delays that have hampered the rollout of its much-anticipated voice capabilities. In fact, the tech giant has even withdrawn commercials intended to showcase these advanced features due to their unavailability. Moreover, Apple has shifted its leadership in the AI sector, signaling an internal reassessment of their strategy.

For Apple users, while there is an integration of ChatGPT with Siriavailable for those who enable it in their settingsmany are still left dissatisfied, waiting for the smarter version of Siri that Apple had promised. This gap in the market presents a unique opportunity for Perplexitys iOS app to establish itself as a viable alternative, especially for individuals seeking advanced voice functionalities.

Voice interaction and mobile applications are integral strategies within the AI community, as companies vie for consumer loyalty in an increasingly competitive environment. On Thursday, Perplexity announced that its voice assistant will come preloaded on the latest Motorola Razr smartphones, further expanding its reach. Meanwhile, ChatGPT had previously launched an advanced voice mode last August, although its initial rollout faced controversy when a teaser video suggested that its AI voice bore an uncanny resemblance to that of actress Scarlett Johansson. Johansson publicly stated that she had not consented to the use of her voice, highlighting ongoing concerns among performers regarding the use of their likeness and voice in AI applications.

If users are unable to access the voice assistant feature in their Perplexity app, it is recommended that they update to the latest version through the Apple App Store. Perplexity provides both a free plan and paid options with higher usage limits, ensuring accessibility for a broad range of users. It's worth noting that the information users share with Perplexity may be utilized for training purposes, but users have the option to opt out of this data collection in their settings. For those interested in understanding more about their privacy, a comprehensive privacy policy is available for review.

To explore more about what Perplexity has to offer, readers can check out our full review of the application and discover our top recommendations for the best AI chatbots available today.