Perplexity AI has announced a strategic partnership with Motorola to embed its AI-powered search engine directly into smartphones, marking a major step in bringing conversational AI to the mainstream. This integration makes Motorola the first smartphone brand to fully incorporate Perplexity into its AI ecosystem, “Moto AI.”
The collaboration reflects a shift in the tech world’s focus—from niche AI gadgets like Humane’s AI Pin and Rabbit r1, which received underwhelming reviews—to more practical AI deployment via smartphones. Industry leaders and investors increasingly see mobile devices as the most scalable and user-friendly way to deliver AI capabilities.
Perplexity’s CEO, Aravind Srinivas, emphasized that search should move beyond traditional ads and links, calling smartphones “the gateway to everyday AI usage.” The Perplexity engine will join forces with other AI tools in Motorola’s suite, including Microsoft Copilot, Meta, and Google Gemini, offering a rich AI experience.
This isn’t a revenue-sharing deal—it’s about distribution. Motorola users will receive three free months of Perplexity Pro, which includes premium tools like Deep Research. The goal is to broaden Perplexity’s reach and study real-world user behavior beyond tech-savvy circles.
With its valuation jumping from $500 million to $9 billion in 2024—and potentially hitting $18 billion soon—Perplexity is positioning itself as a credible challenger to Google and OpenAI in AI-powered search. Despite facing scrutiny over content sourcing, its user-first approach and mobile integration may give it a critical edge in the AI race.
