‘The more AI works better, the iPhone essentially becomes your digital passport’: Perplexity CEO explains why says Apple actually has a clear edge in the AI race

• Perplexity’s CEO says the iPhone remains strong in an AI-dominated world
• That’s because it has unique strengths when it comes to AI
• It also has other aspects that aren’t affected by AI at all

It’s no secret that Apple has been struggling with its AI efforts and questions have been raised over how chatbots and large language models (LLMs) could impact the devices that make up so much of its business. But now, one AI firm has just come out swinging in defense of Apple’s position.

Speaking on an episode of the This Week in AI podcast broadcast on YouTube, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas said that none of Apple’s best iPhones are going to be threatened by AI alternatives. In fact, Srinivas believes they’ll only go from strength to strength.

“The iPhone is actually not getting disrupted by AI at all,” Srinivas said, adding that “the more AI works better, the iPhone essentially becomes your digital passport.”

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By that, Srinivas explained that the iPhone stores many things that are important to your life: your wallets and bank cards, your health records, and your precious photos. It also lets you stay in touch with people through messages and FaceTime calls. “All these are things that are truly personal to you and have no connection to AI at all,” Srinivas remarked.

In other words, Srinivas believes that the iPhone performs a wide variety of roles that will not be replaced or…