In a potential shake-up of the Android ecosystem, AI startup Perplexity is in discussions with smartphone giants Motorola and Samsung to become the default digital assistant on their devices, according to a Bloomberg report.
Motorola has reportedly finalised a deal with Perplexity, with an official announcement likely at its upcoming event on April 24, where it will unveil the next-generation foldable Razr smartphones. The integration of Perplexity is expected to bring a customised experience, possibly optimised for the unique foldable form factor, the report stated.
The Bloomberg report further stated that the talks with Samsung are said to be in the early stages. The development is notable, given Samsung’s partnership with Google and its own Bixby assistant. Yet, Samsung has shown interest in Perplexity, having already invested in the AI firm through its venture arm, Samsung Next, with additional investment reportedly on the horizon.
If these partnerships materialise, it could mean a major shift in the Android experience. Perplexity’s appeal lies in its sleek, search-engine-like interface and real-time web-integrated answers. It’s currently available on both Android and iOS, offering a free version and a $20/month Pro subscription for advanced features.
Founded in 2022, Perplexity is powered by leading AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic and even Google itself. It is also developing new features, including a Google “Circle to Search”-like tool for Android users.
The big question is whether these smartphone makers will replace Google’s Gemini entirely or allow users to choose their preferred assistant during setup.