
Deutsche Telekom (DT) has joined hands with Perplexity, the leading gen AI company, to revolutionize consumer technology through artificial intelligence. This partnership, announced at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025, marks a major step toward integrating advanced AI capabilities into everyday life. The collaboration includes the development of an innovative “AI Phone” and the launch of Magenta AI platform, both designed to make AI accessible and intuitive for consumers.
The AI Phone: A Leap in Consumer Technology
One of the most significant outcomes of this partnership is the creation of an “AI Phone,” a smartphone built in close collaboration between DT, Perplexity, and partners like Black Forest Labs, Picsart, and ElevenLabs. This device will feature Perplexity’s AI assistant as a native system-wide feature, allowing users to interact with it directly from the lock screen. The assistant will perform tasks such as real-time translations, email composition, booking reservations, and even shopping—all without requiring users to switch between apps.
The AI Phone is set to be unveiled in late 2025 and will hit the market in 2026 with a price tag under $1,000. Initially targeting the European market, the device aims to bring cutting-edge AI capabilities to a broad audience while maintaining affordability. Claudia Nemat, DT’s Board Member for Technology and Innovation, emphasized that this initiative aligns with DT’s vision of becoming an “AI company” focused on creating user-friendly AI agents rather than foundational models.
Magenta AI: Democratizing AI Access
In addition to the smartphone, DT is launching “Magenta AI,” an app-based assistant available to its 300 million customers worldwide. Powered by Perplexity and other partners like Google Cloud AI and ElevenLabs, Magenta AI will deliver voice-activated assistance for tasks such as answering queries, managing schedules, and generating creative content. Customers can access this feature through DT’s MeinMagenta app.
To encourage adoption, DT is offering German customers one year of free access to Perplexity Pro via its Magenta Moments loyalty program. This premium service provides enhanced real-time browsing capabilities and advanced conversational tools.
A Vision for Consumer-Centric AI
Both companies share a vision of making artificial intelligence intuitive and accessible for everyone. Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity, highlighted how their technology is evolving from being a simple “answer engine” to an “action machine.” The assistant will proactively assist users by performing tasks like setting reminders or booking tickets—making it more than just a tool for information retrieval.
Jonathan Abrahamson, Chief Product & Digital Officer at DT, noted that this partnership aligns with DT’s legacy of democratizing connectivity. By extending this mission to artificial intelligence, DT aims to lead the charge in making advanced technologies available to all consumers.
Future Prospects
This collaboration positions Deutsche Telekom as a leader in consumer-focused AI innovation while showcasing Perplexity’s expertise in generative AI. The partnership also reflects broader industry trends where telecom companies are leveraging AI to enhance their product ecosystems. With additional projects in development that remain unannounced, this alliance promises further advancements in integrating AI into daily life.
Conclusion
Deutsche Telekom and Perplexity’s partnership represents a pivotal moment in consumer technology. By combining their strengths—DT’s extensive network infrastructure and Perplexity’s cutting-edge generative AI capabilities—they aim to simplify complex tasks and make artificial intelligence an indispensable part of everyday life. From the affordable yet powerful AI Phone to the versatile Magenta AI platform, this collaboration sets a new benchmark for innovation in the tech industry.
We are proud to partner with @deutschetelekom to make Perplexity Assistant the native feature on their new AI Phone. pic.twitter.com/rYwsuySLW4
— Perplexity (@perplexity_ai) March 3, 2025