Samsung quietly adds Perplexity AI to TVs with free Pro subscription

Samsung has quietly launched what could be the most practical AI integration yet for smart TVs: a dedicated Perplexity app that transforms your television into an intelligent research assistant. This isn’t just another voice command feature—it’s a comprehensive AI-powered search engine that can help you plan trips, research topics, find content, and answer complex questions directly from your couch.

The rollout represents Samsung’s broader push to differentiate its TVs in an increasingly competitive smart TV market, where manufacturers are racing to integrate meaningful AI capabilities beyond basic voice controls. For users, it means accessing one of the web’s most sophisticated AI research tools without switching devices or opening a laptop.

What Perplexity AI brings to your TV

Perplexity AI functions as an advanced answer engine that searches across multiple credible sources in real-time to provide comprehensive, cited responses to user queries. Unlike basic voice assistants that provide simple answers, Perplexity conducts deep research, synthesizes information from multiple sources, and suggests follow-up questions to help users explore topics more thoroughly.

The TV app works alongside Samsung’s Vision AI Companion, the company’s built-in AI assistant that already helps users navigate content and adjust settings. This integration means Perplexity’s capabilities are woven into the TV’s existing interface rather than functioning as a standalone app that feels disconnected from your viewing experience.

For TV users specifically, this creates opportunities that go far beyond traditional search. The large screen format makes Perplexity particularly effective for collaborative planning sessions, research projects, or educational content where multiple people might be viewing and discussing results together.

Practical applications for TV-based AI research

The combination of Perplexity’s research capabilities with a large TV screen opens up several compelling use cases that work particularly well in living room settings:

Trip planning and research: Ask “Plan a 5-day itinerary for Tokyo in spring” and get detailed day-by-day recommendations with restaurant suggestions, cultural sites, and transportation options. The large screen makes it easy for multiple people to review and discuss options together.

Entertainment discovery: Instead of endless scrolling through streaming catalogs, ask specific questions like “Find critically acclaimed sci-fi series from the last two years” or “Show me movies directed by the Russo Brothers and their ratings.” Perplexity can cross-reference multiple streaming platforms and provide context about why certain content might appeal to you.

Educational content and homework help: Families can use the TV for collaborative learning, asking questions like “Explain the causes of World War I with primary sources” or “What are the key differences between renewable energy types?” The large display makes it easier to review detailed explanations and source materials together.

Real-time event information: During live events, sports games, or news coverage, ask follow-up questions about what you’re watching: “What’s the history behind this political conflict?” or “Show me career statistics for this player.”

Party and social planning: Use the TV as a collaborative planning tool for gatherings, asking “What are popular Halloween party themes for adults?” or “Create a fantasy football lineup strategy for this week.”

How to set up and access Perplexity on Samsung TVs

Getting started with Perplexity requires just a few setup steps, though the process assumes some familiarity with your Samsung TV’s interface:

Navigate to the Perplexity TV app through either your TV’s main Apps section or by accessing it through the Vision AI Companion interface. The app should appear in your installed applications once your TV receives the update.

During initial setup, you’ll need to accept Perplexity’s terms and conditions, which cover how the service processes your queries and maintains your data. This step is important because Perplexity will have access to your voice commands and search history.

For input methods, you have several options: use your TV remote to navigate an on-screen keyboard for typing queries, connect a USB keyboard for faster text entry, or enable microphone access for voice commands. The voice option requires granting microphone permissions, but it’s generally the most convenient for living room use.

Once configured, the Perplexity app becomes accessible from your TV’s home screen alongside your other applications and streaming services.

Understanding the free Perplexity Pro subscription

Samsung’s partnership includes a valuable bonus: a free 12-month subscription to Perplexity Pro for all users of the TV app. This subscription normally costs $20 per month, making it a significant added value for Samsung TV owners.

Perplexity Pro includes several premium features that enhance the TV experience: unlimited usage without daily query limits, access to advanced AI models for more sophisticated responses, the ability to upload and analyze documents or images, and priority access during peak usage times when the free version might experience slowdowns.

To claim your free subscription, look for a QR code that appears when you first launch the Perplexity TV app. Scanning this code with your smartphone will guide you through the redemption process, linking your TV usage to a Perplexity Pro account.

The Pro subscription is particularly valuable for TV use because living room sessions often involve multiple queries as families or groups explore topics together, which could quickly exhaust the daily limits of the free version.

Availability and device compatibility

Samsung is rolling out the Perplexity TV app in phases based on TV model years. All 2025 Samsung TV models have immediate access to the app as part of their standard software package.

Owners of 2024 and 2023 Samsung TVs will receive the app later this year through a software update to their TV’s operating system. Samsung hasn’t specified exact timing for these updates, but they typically roll out major feature additions in quarterly software releases.

This staggered rollout reflects Samsung’s strategy of using AI features to encourage upgrades to newer models while still supporting recent purchases with eventual access to new capabilities.

The broader smart TV AI landscape

Samsung’s Perplexity integration arrives as smart TV manufacturers increasingly compete on AI capabilities rather than just hardware specifications. Google has been rolling out its Gemini AI assistant to Google TV devices, starting with TCL’s QM9K model and expanding to Sony Bravia TVs and other manufacturers.

However, Samsung’s approach differs by partnering with a specialized AI research company rather than developing proprietary capabilities. Perplexity’s strength in synthesizing information from multiple sources and providing cited responses could give Samsung TVs an advantage for users who want more than basic voice commands.

This trend toward sophisticated AI integration suggests that smart TVs are evolving beyond content consumption devices into interactive information hubs that can serve multiple household functions, from entertainment discovery to collaborative planning and research.