Google stopped Motorola from using Perplexity as default assistant
US antitrust trial exposes Google’s restrictions on rival AI assistants.
A senior executive at Perplexity AI has testified that Google prevented Motorola from setting the AI startup’s assistant as the default on new smartphones, citing restrictive contracts.
The testimony came during a trial seeking remedies after Google was found to have unlawfully maintained a search monopoly.
Although Motorola will preload the app, it cannot make it the default due to binding agreements with Google. Perplexity’s Chief Business Officer, described the difficulty of replacing Google’s assistant on Android phones, saying Google’s terms create an environment where device makers fear losing revenue.
The CEO added that ongoing negotiations with other companies only became possible due to pressure from the US Department of Justice’s antitrust case.
The Justice Department is asking the court to ban Google from paying for default placements, which would also affect its AI products like Gemini.
Meanwhile, Perplexity is developing its own browser, Comet, and voiced concern about any Chrome sale undermining open-source access. The company does not support OpenAI’s interest in acquiring the browser, citing past inconsistencies in its open-source commitments.
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