“As long as Android remains open and doesn’t do anything shady like…”-- Perplexity AI CEO warns of AI gatekeeping

Perplexity

Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity AI, has commented on Y Combinator President Garry Tan’s recent video on X about Apple’s closed approach to the entire AI ecosystem—especially AI Assistant Siri—on its platform. While supporting the call for AI assistant choice, Srinivas raised concerns about Android’s long-term openness, warning against potential changes favouring Google Assistant over competing AI models.

In the video posted by Beff – e/acc on X, Tan criticised Siri’s outdated technology, comparing it to AI assistants developed by OpenAI and Anthropic. He further argued that Apple should allow users to choose their preferred AI assistant, similar to how Windows lets users select a default web browser. Tan believes this approach would foster competition, drive innovation and investment.

Responding to Tan’s post, Srinivas expressed his support for AI assistant choice but cautioned that Android must remain open. He highlighted the risk of Android defaulting back to Google Assistant in future updates, especially if Perplexity AI continues to gain traction. He emphasised that users, not platform owners, should have the final say in selecting their default AI assistant.

I do respect that. As long as Android remains open and doesnt do anything shady like switching the default back to Google in a new update, then everything is good. I just worry that wont remain the case if they continue to lose on product to Perplexity. Also, the user needs to https://t.co/hQfvm1uEE4

Aravind Srinivas (@AravSrinivas) April 3, 2025

If you are unaware, Android currently allows users to choose their AI assistant of their choice. Users can choose supported AI assistants like ChatGPT, Alexa, etc as their default AI agent on their device. However, Apple currently does not offer a similar option to users.

Srinivas’ response reflects broader industry concerns about platform dominance. While Apple’s control over Siri is well known, Android has historically positioned itself as an open ecosystem. However, if Google moves to restrict competition, alternative AI models like Perplexity could face challenges in reaching users.

No matter how brands are promoting their AI assistant tools, every AI assistant has their own benefits and some negatives. Allowing users to choose their AI assistant fosters innovation, enhances personalisation, and prevents platform control. This will also give them the flexibility to choose the AI assistant that fits well with their need.