Perplexity Releases AI Mobile Assistant for Android

Also, Forbes dives into the evolving trend of “Physical AI” we all better keep an eye on

Author

Jack Lajoie
January 24, 2025 • read time ~ 6 minutes

⚡️ Headlines

🤖 AI

ByteDance plans $20 billion in capital expenditures for 2025, focusing on AI innovation - The TikTok parent company will allocate most of its investment toward expanding AI capabilities. [Reuters]

Microsoft and OpenAI deepen collaboration to fuel the next wave of AI innovation - The partnership aims to integrate OpenAI technologies into Microsoft products and drive broader AI development. [Microsoft Blog]

Ramp introduces 'Treasury' for cash management that optimizes capital with minimal effort - The new tool leverages AI to help businesses manage cash and maximize returns. [PR Newswire]

Meta to invest billions in AI data centers to support generative AI ambitions - Mark Zuckerberg highlights AI as a core focus for Meta’s future growth. [The Verge]

🦾 Emerging Tech

Trump’s crypto executive order aims to regulate the digital currency ecosystem - The policy includes measures to enforce transparency and ensure market stability. [Wired]

🤳 Social Media

State of Mobile Apps report reveals 2025’s top app categories and spending trends - Sensor Tower data shows mobile gaming and social apps dominating global revenue. [Social Media Today]

🔬 Research

Dataiku outlines key generative AI trends expected to shape 2025 - The report identifies breakthroughs in AI personalization and ethics as critical areas of focus. [Dataiku]

Last Exam AI introduces groundbreaking AI tools for academic testing and certification - The platform automates test creation and evaluation with AI-driven precision. [Last Exam AI]

⚖ Legal

White House launches initiative to bolster U.S. leadership in digital financial technology - The executive order emphasizes security, transparency, and innovation in the fintech sector. [White House]

Trump’s AI order commissions experts to create a comprehensive federal AI strategy - The directive seeks to position the U.S. as a global leader in artificial intelligence. [The Information]

UK's High Court to hear landmark AI copyright infringement case - The case could redefine the legal framework for AI-generated content. [BBC]

🎱 Random

‘Taxi Driver’ screenwriter praises AI as smarter than Oscar-nominated peers - The writer claims AI will soon surpass Hollywood creatives in crafting compelling stories. [Fox News]

🔌 Plug-Into-This

Perplexity has launched its AI-powered mobile assistant for Android devices. This assistant can answer general questions and perform tasks such as writing emails, setting reminders, and booking dinners. It is multimodal, allowing users to interact with both the screen and the camera.

  • The assistant supports apps like Spotify, YouTube, and Uber, enabling tasks like playing music, streaming videos, and hailing rides.

  • Users can ask questions about on-screen content or use the camera to identify objects, enhancing interaction with the device.

  • Activation involves replacing the default assistant through the Perplexity app, accessible via a swipe or home button hold.

  • Currently, the assistant does not support apps like Slack or Reddit, but more integrations are planned.

  • An iOS version is pending, contingent on obtaining necessary permissions from Apple.

📱 This intriguing development positions Perplexity as a competitor to established assistants like Siri and Alexa, offering Android users an alternative to whatever weak option they get standard on their phone from their manufacturer. Does a world with more white label mobile devices simply running a couple of chips, and a la carte subscriptions to the best AI agent on the market make sense?

Physical AI, which are applications of artificial intelligence integrated into tangible “physical” systems, is loudly advancing amidst all the ChatGPT hype. Enabling machines to interact directly with the physical world in more autonomous ways has massive implications for a wide range of industries.

  • Recent developments include robots capable of intricate assembly tasks, autonomous vehicles navigating complex terrains, and medical devices performing delicate procedures.

  • Industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics are adopting physical AI to improve efficiency, precision, and adaptability in operations.

  • Challenges remain in areas like sensor integration, real-time processing, and ensuring safety in dynamic environments.

  • Ongoing research focuses on improving machine learning models, enhancing sensor technologies, and developing robust frameworks for physical AI applications.

👀 According to top AI voices like Jensen Huang, if you have an eye to the future, this is really the space to be watching closely. The advancements are certainly staggering and most of the time the videos need to be proven — which tells you (a) how insane they are (b) how good AI video has also become.

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