Perplexity Assistant Challenges Gemini As Action AI Model For Android

Perplexity Assistant is available free on the Google Play Store (photo: x @TechTicia)

JAKARTA - A new AI assistant is here for Android, offering a real ability to complete tasks in the real world. Perplexity Assistant is an AI model that can order transportation via Uber and perform tasks through the app on your phone.

The concept of LAMs (Large Action Models) has attracted attention as an AI model that can perform tasks on devices directly. Google Gemini, for example, is a combination of LLM (Large Language Model) and LAM, allowing users to open apps and take action on their devices. However, Gemini has certain limitations.

Perplexity Assistant, which launched this week for Android users on the Google Play Store, offers a new alternative. By replacing Gemini, Perplexity AI can be accessed via a power button, appearing at the bottom of your screen.

One of the flagship features of the Perplexity Assistant is its ability to use Android applications outside of certain ecosystems. For example:

When tested, the information provided by Perplexity Assistant is more in-depth in some cases. For example, when asked to analyze the object in front of the camera, the assistant opened the camera and provided a detailed description of a coffee cup.

However, this feature requires some experiments to work perfectly. Although Gemini has similar features through the Live app, Perplexity Assistant offers a more automated experience with less manual effort.

Perplexity Assistant is available free on the Google Play Store, with full access to the basic feature. For users who need advanced features, there is a Perplexity Pro package worth US$19.99 (Rp320 thousand) per month.

Although not perfect, Perplexity Assistant shows great potential in providing a more useful AI experience on Android. With the ability to carry out direct tasks from devices, Perplexity provides a real competition for Google Gemini.