Perplexity Set to Challenge Gemini as Default Assistant on Motorola and Samsung Phones

Perplexity AI is gearing up to disrupt the Android AI assistant scene, as reports suggest it will soon become the default assistant on Motorola phones and possibly on Samsung devices as well.

According to a Bloomberg report, Perplexity has finalized a partnership with Motorola. An official announcement is expected at Motorola’s upcoming April 24 event, where it will unveil its next-generation foldable Razr smartphones. These devices are expected to come with a custom-tailored version of the Perplexity assistant, optimized specifically for the foldable form factor. Motorola also plans to promote the assistant heavily, providing an alternative to Google’s Gemini.

Meanwhile, discussions between Perplexity and Samsung are still in the early stages. Despite Samsung’s long-standing collaboration with Google and its own Bixby assistant, the tech giant is considering a new direction. Samsung has already invested in Perplexity through its venture arm, Samsung Next, and is reportedly planning to double down with another round of funding, potentially boosting Perplexity’s valuation.

If the deal progresses, Perplexity may be pre-installed on Samsung Galaxy devices or featured prominently via the Galaxy Store. However, replacing Gemini entirely seems unlikely at this stage. The more plausible approach would be to offer users the option to choose between Gemini and Perplexity during device setup.

What Sets Perplexity Apart?

Founded in 2022, Perplexity has rapidly emerged as a serious contender in the AI space, competing with the likes of ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. It delivers concise, conversational answers with real-time web access, mimicking a search engine while enhancing it with generative AI. It’s currently powered by leading models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and even Google itself.

Available across Android, iOS, desktop, and even as a macOS app and Chrome extension, Perplexity offers both free and premium tiers. The latter is priced at $20/month under the Perplexity Pro plan. New features, such as a “Circle to Search”-style tool for Android, are also in development.