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Inbox overwhelm? Perplexity's new Email Assistant wants to help - for $200 a month
AI companies are marketing heavily to enterprise customers. Perplexity is bringing its AI directly to white-collar workers' inboxes with an automated assistant that can review and organize emails, and respond to messages in an approximation of their human users' voices. Email Assistant, released Monday, connects directly with Gmail or Outlook via a user's desktop or mobile email app to perform a wide range of monotonous tasks, like suggesting meeting times based on calendar availability and generating summaries of disparate but related message threads. This mirrors a feature within Comet -- Perplexity's AI agent-powered web browser designed to compete with Chrome and other legacy browsers -- which can summarize content found on a particular web page. Also: I tried Perplexity's Comet AI browser, and I like where it's going (but it's not there yet) It can also auto-label messages by type, tell you when your next meeting is with a coworker by searching your inbox, and order priorities. Email Assistant joins a growing list of pricier AI tools, including ChatGPT Pro, aimed at professionals on enterprise budgets. Its capabilities look similar to some of Gemini's in Gmail, including Personalized Smart Replies, finding information via a natural-language search, and organizing priorities. Gemini can also help users declutter their inboxes with a single command to delete emails from a specific sender, though Perplexity's assistant doesn't list that as a feature. Though Google has yet to release a formal email assistant beyond Gemini, it did recently release one for Google Meet. Of course, Gemini is only available for Gmail. Outlook, on the other hand, has its own Copilot features, courtesy of Microsoft's equivalent AI assistant, which feature many of the same capabilities, primarily summarizing threads and drafting replies. Also: 7 Copilot tricks to supercharge your classic Outlook - even if they're not for me Email Assistant is SOC 2- and GDPR-compliant and is not trained on user interactions, according to Perplexity. Available exclusively through Perplexity's $200/month Max subscription tier, the launch of the new Email Assistant is the AI startup's latest effort to capture a slice of the workplace productivity market -- a niche that's become a central marketing focus throughout the AI industry. To many, generative AI is still largely a solution in search of a problem. Regardless, tech companies have increasingly been turning their attention towards enterprises in the hopes that their AI tools will become deeply interwoven into the workplace as productivity essentials. Also: Is ChatGPT Plus still worth $20 when the free version offers so much - including GPT-5? Microsoft is now partnering with Anthropic to incorporate the AI startup's technology into workplace productivity platforms like Excel and Word. OpenAI, meanwhile, is reportedly building a platform to compete with Google Workplace and Microsoft Office 365, as it simultaneously distances itself from its long-standing partnership with Microsoft and restructures itself as a Public Benefit Corporation. Companies have also been pushing their AI systems into tools that are already deeply entrenched in individuals' daily workflows, a kind of marketing sleight-of-hand executed in the hopes that the use of those new tools will also become habitual and indispensable. Last week, for example, Google made Gemini available in Chrome through a dedicated widget at the top-right corner of a web page (the feature was previously available to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers). Also: I got 4 years of product development done in 4 days for $200, and I'm still stunned Similarly, Perplexity is betting that by weaving its new Email Assistant directly into white-collar workers' inboxes, it can become a go-to AI solution for enterprises while ratcheting up its competition with Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and other competitors. If you're a Perplexity Max subscriber, you can visit this page to connect your Outlook or Gmail account to Perplexity's Email Assistant. Perplexity recommends starting with a simple prompt, like, "What needs my attention first?" in order to start exploring the assistant's capabilities.
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Perplexity launches an AI email assistant for Max subscribers
Perplexity has introduced a new feature dubbed Email Assistant. With this resource, users can direct an AI chatbot to execute basic email tasks such as scheduling meetings, organizing and prioritizing emails, and drafting replies. At launch, Gmail and Outlook are the only supported email clients. Email assistant is only available to members of the company's pricey Max plan, which costs $200 a month. Perplexity added this upscale subscription option in July. Once an Max user has signed up for the feature, they can write to Perplexity's assistant email address to access its capabilities. Although the company emphasized that the AI assistant does not train on a user's emails, it does adopt their writing style when drafting replies. The feature is available starting today.
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Perplexity launches an AI assistant for your inbox - but you won't believe how much it costs
However it will only be available as part of a subscription costing $200/month Perplexity has introduced a new AI tool designed to act as a personal AI assistant to turn emails into actionable insights, but it comes at a cost. Although in isolation, the new Email Assistant tool might not seem so pricey, it's only available to Perplexity Max subscribers, meaning a combined monthly bill of $200. Perplexity says Email Assistant can draft email replies in your tone and style, handle back-and-forth scheduling, add meeting to your calendars, provide summaries of emails and meetings, and lets you ask questions about your inbox. It also organizes emails with smart labels, and works across Gmail and Outlook. For existing subscribers, Email Assistant adds more value to the high-tier plan, which includes unlimited Labs, early access to new features and advanced model options, but for non-subscribers, it's a very expensive option for a modest boost in productivity. The productivity benefits aren't entirely clear, with Perplexity boasting that users could see a productivity boost of 3-18x per day - a big range. But, importantly for companies (who are likely the biggest subscribers), SOC 2 and GDPR compliance ensures maximum data privacy, and Perplexity promises never to train on user data thanks to enterprise-grade encryption. To interact with the Email Assistant, users must either email [email protected] or CC the address in threads. "The email assistant knows it's you and gets right to work," Perplexity said. All of that being said, Perplexity isn't the only company offering generative AI assistance within the email environment, and it's far from the cheapest. Google's Gemini already integrates with Gmail to summarize email threads, find information in inboxes and craft responses. Microsoft's Copilot also integrates into Outlook for scheduling, taking action, summarizing and more.
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Perplexity's new AI agent wants to replace your email habits for $200 per month
Perplexity AI launched an autonomous email assistant on Monday that can manage inboxes, draft personalized responses and automatically schedule meetings, marking the company's most aggressive push yet into workplace automation as AI startups race to capture the lucrative productivity software market. The Email Assistant, available exclusively to subscribers of Perplexity's $200-per-month Max plan, works within Gmail and Outlook to categorize messages, compose replies that match users' writing styles, and handle the back-and-forth of meeting coordination without human intervention. Users can add the AI agent to email threads, where it will check calendars, suggest meeting times and send invites automatically. The launch escalates Perplexity's battle against tech giants Google and Microsoft, whose productivity suites dominate corporate email and calendar management. By embedding AI directly into these workflows, Perplexity is betting it can capture a slice of the estimated $50 billion productivity software market while advancing its broader goal of replacing traditional search with AI-powered answers. "Turn your inbox into scheduled meetings, drafted replies, and clear priorities," Perplexity states on its website for the new service, which promises to deliver "inbox zero, daily" through automated email triage and response generation. The timing is strategic. Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas said in August that AI agents like those in the company's Comet browser could "automate two jobs with one prompt," specifically targeting recruiters and administrative assistants. The Email Assistant is designed to fulfill that vision by handling routine communications that consume hours of white-collar workers' time daily. Why Perplexity's $200 monthly price tag targets enterprise customers over consumers The $200 monthly price point -- 40 times higher than Perplexity's basic Pro subscription -- shows the company is targeting high-value business users rather than consumers. This pricing strategy mirrors other enterprise AI tools, where companies justify steep costs through productivity gains and time savings. "I respect that you're giving it a serious price point. Tired of seeing AI being used as a tool for data collection and buy-in at a loss in other companies," wrote user David McMurray in response to Perplexity's announcement on social media platform X. However, the Max-only availability has sparked significant user backlash. Many existing Pro subscribers expressed frustration at being excluded from the new features, with one user asking "do you seriously think it will increase ur conversion rate? Has ur marketing/cvp/product team has lost its mind?" The steep pricing follows Perplexity's recent $200 million funding round at a $20 billion valuation in September, providing the company with substantial resources to compete against well-funded rivals. The startup has raised $1.5 billion total since its 2022 founding, according to PitchBook data. How AI agents are reshaping workplace automation beyond simple chatbots Perplexity's Email Assistant arrives as the AI industry increasingly focuses on "agents" -- autonomous systems that can perform complex, multi-step tasks without constant human oversight. OpenAI recently launched its own agent called Operator, while Google has been integrating AI capabilities directly into Chrome and its productivity suite. The Email Assistant builds on Perplexity's July launch of Comet, an AI-powered web browser that includes similar automation features. That product, also initially restricted to Max subscribers, was designed to challenge Google Chrome's dominance by making AI assistance native to web browsing. "This is huge," wrote user Zander, The Startup Guy on X. "Email is still the #1 place knowledge workers lose time. If Perplexity nails scheduling + tone-matched replies, that's a serious wedge into daily workflow." The assistant can automatically categorize emails using labels, draft responses that match users' communication styles, and provide daily summaries of important messages and meetings. Users interact with the system by adding it to email threads or asking it to find meeting times and resolve scheduling conflicts. What extensive email access means for user privacy and data security The Email Assistant requires extensive access to users' Google or Microsoft accounts, including permissions to view screens, send emails, access contacts and modify calendars. This level of access raises significant privacy questions, particularly for enterprise users handling sensitive business communications. "What about security of sensitive e-mail???" asked one user on social media, reflecting broader concerns about AI systems accessing personal data. Perplexity addresses these concerns by emphasizing its use of "enterprise-grade encryption for all data transmission and storage" and stating that emails are "never used to train models." The company says it complies with GDPR and SOC-2 privacy regulations. X.com user Bharat Singh noted the core challenge: "The core challenge is always balancing deep context (for usefulness) with user privacy (for trust). Curious to see the technical details on how you've tackled this balance." Where AI assistants still struggle with complex tasks and hallucinations Early testing by technology reviewers has revealed both the promise and limitations of current AI agent technology. TechCrunch's hands-on review of Comet's similar assistant features found it "surprisingly helpful for simple tasks" but noted it "quickly falls apart when given more complex requests." The outlet reported instances where the AI agent entered incorrect dates for booking requests and struggled with multi-step processes, highlighting the ongoing challenge of AI hallucinations -- when systems generate plausible but incorrect information. These limitations show that while AI agents can handle routine email management and scheduling, they still require human oversight for complex negotiations or sensitive communications. The technology is an evolution rather than a revolution in workplace automation. How Google and Microsoft are responding to Perplexity's productivity push Perplexity's move into email automation puts additional pressure on Google and Microsoft to accelerate their own AI integration efforts. Google has already responded by launching AI features in Chrome and Gmail, while Microsoft continues expanding Copilot across its Office suite. The startup's strategy focuses on capturing users through specialized AI tools before expanding into broader productivity categories. With Perplexity reporting 780 million queries in May and 20 percent month-over-month growth, the company has demonstrated significant traction in AI-powered search. However, convincing users to switch email providers or adopt expensive new tools remains challenging. The lukewarm reception to the Max-only pricing shows Perplexity may need to adjust its strategy to reach broader market adoption. The Email Assistant launch follows the broader trend of AI companies moving beyond simple chatbots toward more sophisticated automation tools. As these systems become more capable, they could fundamentally reshape how knowledge workers interact with basic productivity software. Perplexity's ambitious entry into workplace automation signals a new phase in the AI revolution, where startups are no longer content to build better search engines or chatbots. Instead, they're targeting the daily workflows that consume billions of hours across corporate America. Whether the technology can live up to its promise -- and whether businesses will pay premium prices for AI assistance -- will determine if we're witnessing the beginning of a productivity revolution or just another expensive experiment. The real test won't be whether AI can draft an email, but whether it can earn the trust of workers whose livelihoods depend on getting those communications exactly right.
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Perplexity introduces an AI-driven Email Assistant to streamline inbox management and boost productivity. The tool, available exclusively to $200/month Max subscribers, works with Gmail and Outlook to automate email tasks and scheduling.
Perplexity, an AI startup, has launched a new Email Assistant designed to transform how professionals manage their inboxes. This AI-driven tool, released on Monday, aims to streamline email-related tasks and boost productivity for enterprise users
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.Source: VentureBeat
The Email Assistant offers a range of functionalities to help users tackle inbox overwhelm:
Source: engadget
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The assistant works seamlessly with Gmail and Outlook, integrating directly into users' desktop or mobile email apps
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.Perplexity's Email Assistant is exclusively available to subscribers of the company's Max plan, priced at $200 per month
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. This premium pricing strategy indicates that Perplexity is targeting high-value business users rather than individual consumers4
.The steep price point has sparked debate among users, with some respecting the serious approach to pricing AI tools, while others express frustration at being excluded from the new features
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.Perplexity's Email Assistant enters a competitive landscape dominated by tech giants:
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By integrating AI directly into established email workflows, Perplexity aims to capture a share of the estimated $50 billion productivity software market
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.Given the sensitive nature of email communications, Perplexity has emphasized its commitment to data privacy and security:
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However, the extensive access required by the Email Assistant has raised questions among potential users about the security of sensitive emails
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.Perplexity's Email Assistant launch aligns with broader industry trends:
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As AI continues to integrate into daily workflows, tools like Perplexity's Email Assistant may become increasingly prevalent in enterprise environments, potentially transforming how professionals interact with their inboxes and manage their time.🟡 chivalry=🟡### Perplexity Introduces AI-Powered Email Assistant
Perplexity, an AI startup, has launched a new Email Assistant designed to transform how professionals manage their inboxes. This AI-driven tool, released on Monday, aims to streamline email-related tasks and boost productivity for enterprise users
1
2
.Source: VentureBeat
The Email Assistant offers a range of functionalities to help users tackle inbox overwhelm:
Source: engadget
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The assistant works seamlessly with Gmail and Outlook, integrating directly into users' desktop or mobile email apps
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.Related Stories
Perplexity's Email Assistant is exclusively available to subscribers of the company's Max plan, priced at $200 per month
2
3
. This premium pricing strategy indicates that Perplexity is targeting high-value business users rather than individual consumers4
.The steep price point has sparked debate among users, with some respecting the serious approach to pricing AI tools, while others express frustration at being excluded from the new features
4
.Perplexity's Email Assistant enters a competitive landscape dominated by tech giants:
3
By integrating AI directly into established email workflows, Perplexity aims to capture a share of the estimated $50 billion productivity software market
4
.Given the sensitive nature of email communications, Perplexity has emphasized its commitment to data privacy and security:
1
4
However, the extensive access required by the Email Assistant has raised questions among potential users about the security of sensitive emails
4
.Perplexity's Email Assistant launch aligns with broader industry trends:
1
4
As AI continues to integrate into daily workflows, tools like Perplexity's Email Assistant may become increasingly prevalent in enterprise environments, potentially transforming how professionals interact with their inboxes and manage their time.
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