A major shift may be underway in the mobile AI landscape, as Samsung and Motorola explore a bold new direction by potentially adopting Perplexity AI as their primary digital assistant. As reported by Bloomberg insiders, Motorola has already signed its deal with the AI company while Samsung is very close to sealing its own pact that could rival Google’s AI exploits.

Motorola plans to unveil the details of this integration during its upcoming launch event on April 24, where it will highlight the company’s latest Razr foldables. Meanwhile, Samsung may introduce Perplexity’s AI capabilities in the forthcoming Galaxy S25 Edge, likely announcing it in May.

What Is Perplexity AI—and Why Does It Matter?

Founded in August 2022 in San Francisco, Perplexity AI has a new approach to AI-powered search and assistance. The system developed by Aravind Srinivas, Denis Yarats, Johnny Ho, and Andy Konwinski provides conversational answers but with citations to back them up, making it different from other assistants that more commonly return vague or non-credited outputs.

Key Offerings Include:

Conversational Search with Sources: Answers come with clickable references for transparency.

In-Depth Research Support: Useful for users in academia, business, or research roles.

Mobile Assistant (Android): Can handle reminders, reservations, and complex questions.

Comet Browser: An autonomous browsing tool that allows AI to complete web-based tasks independently.

Perplexity’s rapid rise has attracted investment from major tech backers, including Jeff Bezos and Nvidia, signaling widespread belief in its disruptive potential.

Why These Tech Giants Are Looking Beyond Google

Breaking the Mold: Samsung’s Strategic Move

Samsung has long leaned on Google’s AI technologies, including Google Assistant and Gemini, across its Galaxy lineup. However, bringing Perplexity into the fold could give Samsung more control over its software ecosystem and allow for more tailored AI experiences. Reports indicate that Samsung’s venture arm, NEXT, invested in Perplexity in 2024—an early signal of growing interest.

Potentially, the Perplexity app could be pre-installed on future Galaxy devices or even serve as the primary assistant in place of Google’s offerings.

Motorola’s AI Leap with the Razr Series

With the highly anticipated launch of the Razr 60 and Razr 60 Ultra, Motorola is looking to set itself apart in the competitive foldable phone market. One way it plans to do this? By integrating Perplexity AI natively. This could enhance device functionality and appeal to power users looking for smarter, more research-oriented assistance tools right out of the box.

How Perplexity Stacks Up Against the Competition

Unlike Google Assistant or Apple’s Siri, which typically respond with brief, sometimes vague answers, Perplexity’s strength lies in its depth and reliability. By including source links and providing fuller, better-contextualized responses, it positions itself as a more trustworthy assistant—especially for tasks involving information gathering, planning, or learning.

What This Means for the Future of AI Assistants

Google’s longstanding grip on the Android AI ecosystem could face serious challenges if these partnerships go through. Some possible implications include:

• Samsung may provide both Perplexity and Gemini, allowing user choice.
  
• Motorola could opt for full integration, phasing out Google Assistant entirely.
  
• Other Android manufacturers may explore partnerships with independent AI firms.
  

Obstacles That Could Slow Adoption

Of course, even with its powerful feature set, Perplexity AI will have to navigate some key hurdles:

• User Habits: Consumers are already accustomed to using Siri or Google Assistant.
  
• System Integration: Deep embedding into Android’s ecosystem will require careful engineering.
  
• Competitive Pushback: Established players like Apple and Google won’t sit still—they’ll likely step up their own AI game in response.
  

Looking Ahead: A Defining Year for AI on Smartphones?

If Perplexity’s rollout with Samsung and Motorola goes as planned, we could be witnessing the beginning of a major shift in mobile AI. By offering tools that combine smart search with academic-level research quality, the assistant may appeal to users tired of surface-level responses.

Should these initiatives prove successful, other smartphone makers might be encouraged to follow suit, loosening the grip of tech giants like Google over the Android ecosystem. The upcoming events from Motorola and Samsung will be key milestones to watch—and possibly the start of a new era in digital assistance.