New AI Helper for Android: Perplexity assistant challenges Gemini

A new AI helper is now available for Android users, offering practical real-life uses. The Perplexity Assistant is an AI that can call for an Uber ride or manage tasks right from your smartphone.
We’ve heard about AI models called LAMs (large action models) that can do things on your devices. Google’s Gemini can do some of this, like opening apps and performing actions, but it has its boundaries.
Now, Perplexity Assistant is here for everyone with an Android device, available on the Google Play Store. It works like any other AI helper; just press and hold the power button and Perplexity pops up at the bottom of your screen. You’ll need to switch it from Gemini to use it.
What stands out with Perplexity Assistant is its ability to work with apps outside the usual system. After a few tries, I managed to use it to book an Uber ride to the airport – something I couldn’t do with other assistants. It can also play tunes on Spotify or YouTube, though that’s not the highlight. Booking a dinner spot with OpenTable? That’s pretty cool.
When compared to Gemini, Perplexity Assistant seems to provide more detailed information. For instance, asking it to describe what’s in front of me made it open the camera to scan my surroundings. It gave me a thorough description of my coffee cup, similar to what Gemini Live might do. However, it did take a few attempts for the assistant to get that I wanted it to analyze what the camera was seeing. The app isn’t perfect yet, but it’s promising.
Gemini can do similar tasks, but it’s a bit more hands-on for now. Perplexity Assistant is free to download from the Google Play Store, and you get all these features with the basic version. If you want more, there’s a Pro version for $19.99 a month.
New features for Google Keep and Gemini Live in Workspace

Google recently updated Google Keep and Gemini Live for Workspace, making both tools more useful for everyday tasks. These changes help users stay organized and work smarter.
For Google Keep, the web version now supports text formatting.
You can add bold, italic, or underlined text to your notes, making them easier to read and organize. This feature, already available on mobile apps, lets you highlight important details or structure your thoughts clearly. Whether you’re jotting down ideas or creating lists, these formatting options make notes more professional and visually appealing.
The update is rolling out to all Google Workspace users and personal Google account holders, so everyone can enjoy a better note-taking experience. Meanwhile, Gemini Live is now available for Google Workspace customers. This voice-based AI feature allows users to have natural, back-and-forth conversations.
You can brainstorm ideas, like planning a marketing campaign or preparing for a sales meeting. Gemini Live also supports camera and screen sharing, so you can show visuals and discuss them in real time. It’s designed for users over 18 and is starting to roll out across Workspace accounts, with full access expected soon.
These updates show Google’s focus on improving productivity tools. Google Keep’s new formatting makes note-taking more flexible, while Gemini Live brings powerful AI conversations to Workspace, helping teams collaborate and innovate. Both features are simple to use and fit seamlessly into your workflow, making work and organization easier.
New Pixel Watch feature simplifies phone swaps

Google has introduced a smart new tool for Pixel Watch owners to ease the transition when upgrading to a new phone. The latest Pixel Watch app update (version 2.2) now includes a “Switch phone” prompt that pops up when the app notices your watch is linked to a different device. This alert, visible on the app’s home screen, guides you to connect your watch to the new phone effortlessly.
The feature walks users through the steps to transfer their Pixel Watch, ensuring a smooth setup. Once completed, the prompt vanishes, and the app updates to show the new connection. It supports all models—Pixel Watch, Pixel Watch 2, and Pixel Watch 3—but requires the newest app version, so you may need to update.
This addition addresses a common hassle where users forget to re-pair their watch after switching phones, which can lead to syncing issues. However, the reminder might feel a bit insistent for those not ready to make the switch immediately. It’s unclear if you can turn off the prompt for good.
Google’s attention to practical tweaks like this highlights their commitment to improving user experience. The phone switch feature saves time and reduces frustration, especially for frequent phone upgraders. If you’ve recently changed phones, open the Pixel Watch app to check out this helpful tool.
Android
Google’s May 2025 Android updates: better performance and messaging

Google’s May 2025 Android updates bring exciting changes to improve how your phone works and how you message. These updates focus on making devices faster, safer, and more user-friendly.
One big change is to Android’s memory system. By increasing the memory page size from 4KB to 16KB on newer devices, apps can load quicker and use less power. This helps phones, especially those with modern chips, run smoothly and save battery life. Older devices will stick with the smaller page size to avoid issues.
The Google System Updates for May also add new features. Google Wallet now supports more card types and makes transit passes easier to use in apps like Google Maps. The Play Store now shows video previews of apps, helping you decide what to download. There are also fixes to improve battery life, storage, and network performance, making your phone more reliable.
For Google Messages, a new “delete for everyone” feature lets you remove sent messages from group chats within 15 minutes. This works for both RCS and SMS, so you can fix mistakes easily. Other messaging upgrades include better scam detection and the ability to send high-quality photos and videos. These updates show Google’s effort to make Android devices faster, more secure, and better for communication. Keep your phone updated to enjoy these improvements!
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