Perplexity AI Chatbot Enhances WhatsApp with Task Scheduling Feature
Image Credit: Dima Solomin | Splash
Perplexity, a U.S.-based artificial intelligence company, has launched a task scheduling feature for its AI-powered chatbot on WhatsApp, enabling users to set reminders and receive periodic updates through natural language commands. Announced by CEO Aravind Srinivas on LinkedIn on June 24, 2025, this update introduces agentic AI capabilities to WhatsApp’s 2 billion-plus monthly active users, transforming the messaging platform into a hub for automated task management.
How Perplexity’s AI Chatbot Manages Tasks
The new feature allows users to schedule recurring tasks, such as daily news summaries or personal reminders, using conversational prompts. In a demonstration, Srinivas queried the chatbot about recent Israel-Iran developments, receiving a concise summary. He then requested, “Can you send me an update on this every morning?” The chatbot responded, “I’ve scheduled the following tasks for you: Send daily updates about the latest news between Israel and Iran every morning.” Users can modify or cancel tasks via follow-up prompts, offering flexibility for reminders like medication schedules or hydration alerts. The feature leverages advanced natural language processing (NLP), a core AI technology, to interpret and execute user instructions seamlessly, making it accessible to non-technical users within WhatsApp’s familiar interface. Additionally, WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption ensures that user interactions with the chatbot remain private, safeguarding sensitive requests like medical reminders. The feature is available globally to all WhatsApp users in any country, as it operates by adding the U.S.-based contact number +1 (833) 436-3285, with no reported geographic restrictions. It is offered for free without requiring a subscription or login, as part of Perplexity's strategy to broaden AI accessibility and attract a wider user base through popular platforms like WhatsApp. While specific limits for the WhatsApp chatbot are not detailed, users may encounter general usage caps, such as daily query limits, aligned with Perplexity's free tier on other services to manage server load and prevent abuse.
Evolution of Perplexity’s AI on WhatsApp
Perplexity introduced its WhatsApp chatbot on April 29, 2025, initially supporting query responses, source citations, and image generation. The task scheduling feature, rolled out in June 2025, enhances the chatbot’s capabilities by enabling proactive task initiation, a hallmark of agentic AI systems that act autonomously based on user preferences. A brief service outage in early May 2025, caused by high demand, highlighted scalability challenges, but Perplexity quickly restored and optimized the service. Future enhancements, including voice mode, video support, and limited group chat functionality, are planned, though the latter is constrained by WhatsApp’s official API limitations. These developments underscore Perplexity’s commitment to expanding its AI-driven offerings on the platform.
AI Integration in Messaging Platforms
The task scheduling feature reflects a broader trend of embedding AI into messaging apps, with WhatsApp emerging as a key platform for innovation. Competitors like xAI’s Grok, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and Meta AI also operate on WhatsApp, but Perplexity’s focus on conversational task management sets it apart. By integrating AI directly into WhatsApp, Perplexity competes with traditional virtual assistants like Siri and Google Assistant, offering users a seamless experience without additional apps. Concurrently, Perplexity’s June 2025 launch of AI-generated short videos on X—where users tag @AskPerplexity to receive eight-second clips with narration and visuals—demonstrates its push toward multimodal AI, combining text, audio, and visuals to enhance user engagement across platforms.
Benefits and Challenges of AI Task Scheduling
The feature offers significant advantages. Its integration into WhatsApp eliminates the need for separate apps, while AI-driven NLP ensures intuitive use, enabling users to set complex schedules conversationally. For instance, reminders for daily tasks or news updates enhance productivity without technical barriers. WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption further protects user data, addressing privacy concerns for sensitive tasks. However, limitations include restricted group chat functionality due to API constraints and potential scalability issues, as evidenced by the May 2025 outage. Privacy remains a concern, as Perplexity’s broader data collection practices—highlighted by Srinivas’s comments about a planned Comet browser—suggest potential risks, though WhatsApp’s encryption mitigates some worries.
The Future of AI Assistants in Messaging
Perplexity’s task scheduling feature signals a shift toward agentic AI, where systems proactively anticipate user needs. Industry experts predict that messaging apps will increasingly serve as hubs for AI-driven automation, with features like voice and video support becoming standard. Perplexity’s planned enhancements align with this trend, but competition from xAI, OpenAI, and Meta AI will intensify. Scalability and privacy will be critical challenges, requiring robust infrastructure and transparent data practices to maintain user trust. As AI assistants evolve, Perplexity’s focus on natural language and multimodal capabilities positions it to shape the future of conversational AI in messaging ecosystems.
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