Perplexity AI, a synthetic intelligence start-up vying with Google and OpenAI, is ramping up efforts to get prime placement for its digital assistant on smartphones.
The corporate is in discussions with Samsung Electronics about integrating its assistant on the smartphone big’s units and has already reached an settlement with Lenovo Group’s Motorola for the same association, in line with folks with information of the matter.
The Samsung talks are early, whereas the Motorola tie-up shall be introduced this month, stated the folks, who requested to not be recognized as a result of the discussions are non-public. Motorola is internet hosting a product occasion in New York on 24 April the place it plans to debate the partnership.
The small print of the Samsung deal are nonetheless being hashed out, the folks stated. The phrases might contain providing Perplexity as a default AI assistant possibility or pre-loading the start-up’s Android app on telephones. Samsung, the worldwide smartphone market chief, additionally might promote the assistant closely as an possibility throughout the Galaxy Retailer, the place customers obtain apps.
Spokespeople for Perplexity, Samsung and Motorola declined to remark.
A take care of Perplexity is difficult by Samsung’s wide-ranging partnership with Google, which powers lots of the AI options on Samsung units and supplies the default search engine. However Samsung has been fostering a relationship with Perplexity for months. The South Korea-based firm’s funding arm, known as Subsequent, backed the start-up final 12 months.
New funding
Samsung is discussing making one other funding in Perplexity within the close to future, the folks stated. The beginning-up has been in broader talks with traders for a brand new spherical of funding, which might double its valuation to $18-billion. It has mentioned elevating between $500-million and $1-billion, Bloomberg Information reported in March.
Based in 2022, Perplexity has gained recognition for real-time outcomes and search engine-like consumer interface. The assistant has the power to floor in-depth analysis, and Perplexity can faucet into fashions past its personal, together with these from OpenAI and Anthropic PBC.
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The Motorola deal will embrace Perplexity being pre-loaded instead assistant to Google’s Gemini. There may even be a tailor-made consumer interface for Motorola’s up to date Razr foldable telephones. And advertising from the machine maker will encourage prospects to attempt Perplexity.
As we speak, Motorola presents its personal homegrown AI system and entry to Google Gemini. Samsung takes the same strategy, offering its Bixby service alongside Google’s AI platform.
For San Francisco-based Perplexity, securing Motorola and Samsung offers could be a serious boon to constructing its model and gaining recognition within the US, the place ChatGPT and Gemini are extra established. Whereas Motorola’s market share is slim within the smartphone business, the corporate is making strides. Samsung, for its half, has a share of about 20% globally, in line with information from IDC.
Earlier this 12 months, Perplexity introduced a take care of Deutsche Telekom in Europe for an AI-centric cellphone. For that machine, which shall be unveiled later this 12 months, Perplexity shall be offering the underlying AI know-how. — Mark Gurman and Shirin Ghaffary, (c) 2025 Bloomberg LP
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