Perplexity Secures Distribution Deal with Motorola Amidst Google’s Antitrust Trial

Perplexity, an AI-driven search engine, will be preloaded on Motorola’s new Razr smartphones, following testimony from Perplexity’s Chief Business Officer, Dmitry Shevelenko, during Google’s antitrust trial. Shevelenko accused Google of anticompetitive practices, stating that Google contracts forced Motorola to prioritize Google services, blocking alternatives like Perplexity. Despite these obstacles, Perplexity has secured a place in Motorola’s 2025 Razr lineup, although it won’t be the default assistant. Google’s Gemini AI will maintain default positioning, while Perplexity will integrate into Moto AI features, offering AI search suggestions and three free months of Perplexity Pro for users. Other AI services like Microsoft Copilot and Meta’s Llama also feature in Motorola’s AI experience. No financial transactions were involved in Perplexity’s deal, highlighting its goal of user growth over immediate revenue. The situation underscores the challenges smaller tech firms face in a market heavily dominated by Google, even as regulatory scrutiny increases.