Perplexity Could Replace Google Gemini as Default Assistant on Android Phones
The startup sealed a deal with Motorola and is now in early talks with Samsung
Perplexity AI is reportedly in discussions to replace Google’s Gemini as the default assistant on select Android smartphones, according to Bloomberg.
The AI search startup has already sealed a deal with Motorola and is now in early talks with Samsung, one of the largest Android OEMs globally.
Motorola may unveil the partnership during its April 24 launch event for the next-gen Razr foldables, potentially showcasing a Perplexity experience designed specifically for foldable screens.
Samsung, while still in negotiation stages, has shown growing interest—partly fueled by its prior investment in Perplexity via its VC arm, Samsung Next. Another funding round may be in the pipeline, which could double the startup’s valuation.
This move is particularly notable given Samsung’s tight alliance with Google. If a deal is finalised, Samsung could allow users to choose between Gemini and Perplexity during device setup.
Last year, OpenAI struck a deal with Apple to integrate its suite of AI tools into the iPhone. Now, it appears that Apple may be expanding those capabilities by introducing Google Gemini into iPhones.
A backend code change spotted by Aaron Perris following the iOS 18.4 beta release in February includes a reference to “Google” as a potential third-party model for Apple Intelligence.
As 9to5Mac highlights, Apple executive Craig Federighi had previously hinted at support for additional AI models like Google’s Gemini alongside ChatGPT.
