Is Perplexity’s Voice Assistant the Siri Alternative We’ve Been Waiting For?

Perplexity’s new iOS voice assistant challenges Siri with proactive task completion and casual language understanding, offering a glimpse into the future of AI assistants.

Let me tell you something, folks. The AI world is buzzing, and it’s not just about the usual suspects. Perplexity, the so-called ‘conversational search engine,’ has just dropped a voice assistant for iOS, and it’s gunning for Siri’s throne. Now, I’m not one to jump on every tech bandwagon, but when I see a pattern, I call it out. And the pattern here? Siri might finally have some real competition.

What’s the big deal, you ask? Well, Perplexity’s assistant isn’t just about answering questions. It’s about doing things—booking your dinner reservations, finding that exact moment in a YouTube video you’re dying to see, all without the back-and-forth you’re used to with Siri. It’s like having a personal assistant who actually gets what you’re saying, even when you’re not being crystal clear.

But here’s where it gets interesting. While Siri’s still stuck in ‘Here’s what I found on the web’ mode, Perplexity’s already filling out forms for you. ‘I already filled out the form. Just click send.’ That’s the kind of proactive help we’ve been promised for years. And yet, it’s not coming from Apple. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

Now, don’t get me wrong. Perplexity’s assistant isn’t perfect. You still need to open the app and tap to talk, and it can’t mess with your iPhone’s core functions like Siri can. No setting alarms, no muting notifications, and forget about taking photos. But let’s be real—how often do you use Siri for that stuff anyway?

The real kicker? This ‘agentic AI’ approach is catching on. ChatGPT, Gemini—they’re all playing in this sandbox now. The goal? Moving from voice assistants that just talk to ones that actually do. And Perplexity? It’s leading the charge, at least for now.

Apple’s playing catch-up, as usual. Sure, they’ve got big plans for Siri, but ‘in the coming year’ is tech speak for ‘we’re not ready yet.’ Meanwhile, Perplexity’s out here, integrating with OpenTable and YouTube, making things happen. It’s a small step, maybe, but it’s a step towards the future.

So, if you’re tired of Siri’s limitations and want an assistant that actually assists, Perplexity’s voice assistant might just be worth a try. Just don’t expect it to take over your iPhone completely—yet.