Perplexity AI began offering its new feature "Perplexity Labs" to Pro users on May 29, 2025[1]. By drawing on broad web searches and analytical processing, Labs can automatically produce reports, spreadsheets, dashboards, and lightweight web apps in roughly 10 minutes, compressing research and document work that previously took days. The release also adds a voice assist feature to the iOS app[1].

Labs Is a Research Automation Mode That Delivers Reports All the Way to Mini Apps in About 10 Minutes

Perplexity Labs is a new mode available to Pro subscribers via the official Perplexity website and the iOS / Android apps[1]. Users activate it by selecting "Labs" in the search box, and Mac and Windows app support is planned in the near future[1].

When a user makes a request, Labs combines tools such as web search, code execution, chart creation, and image generation to carry the task through to completion[1]. Perplexity describes the experience as "like having your own dedicated AI team," with information gathering and deliverable creation handled inside a single mode.

Tasks such as market research reports, competitive analysis, and proposal drafts that used to take several days can now be driven through end-to-end by AI. Research findings can be poured directly into charts or spreadsheets, and if needed, finished off as a runnable mini app, all without leaving Labs[1].

Using the Three Modes: Search, Research, and Labs

Alongside the Labs launch, Perplexity has also reorganized its core feature lineup. What used to be called "Deep Research" has been renamed "Research" and is now redefined as a primary feature sitting between "Search" and "Labs"[1].

The three modes are positioned as follows[1]:

  • Search: a fast mode that returns a brief answer in seconds.
  • Research (formerly Deep Research): takes about three to four minutes to deliver a more reliable, in-depth answer.
  • Labs: spends 10 minutes or more on advanced file generation and mini-app creation.

The structure makes it clear when to use which mode: Search for quick questions, Research for substantial inquiries, and Labs when you need deliverables such as reports or dashboards. The framework cleanly maps the weight of the task to time spent and output level.

Three Pillars: Code Generation, Asset Management, and Mini-App Development

Perplexity identifies the following three capabilities as the core of Labs[1].

Code generation handles data structuring, formula application, chart creation, and the production of text documents and spreadsheets, with the AI writing and running the necessary code as it goes[1]. You no longer need to open a spreadsheet app yourself; aggregated results and graphs appear in response to a simple request.

Asset management automatically saves every artifact created during processing — charts, images, CSV files, code files, and so on — to the "Asset" tab[1]. The design supports workflows where users later download individual assets and drop them into internal documents, making it easy to handle the outputs.

Mini-app development lets users build and run interactive web apps inside the "App" tab[1]. Without spinning up an external development environment, you can generate dashboards, slideshows, or simple websites and have them running, making Labs a natural starting point for prototyping or building internal tools.

For example use cases, Perplexity highlights building investment-strategy dashboards from historical data, turning movie concepts into storyboards and scripts, automatically generating prospect lists, and visualizing time-series trends[1]. The granularity is practical enough to map directly to finance, creative work, business, and analytics.

Perplexity's official project gallery showcases concrete examples of what can be built with Labs and is updated on an ongoing basis[1]. Treating it as a reference point removes the need to design prompts from a blank slate.

iOS App Also Gains Voice Assist

Alongside Labs, Perplexity has also added a voice assist feature to its iOS app[1]. In addition to text input, users can now converse by voice; tapping the microphone button in the app immediately brings up search and assistant functionality[1].

The voice assist can also be wired into Apple's Shortcuts and the iPhone Action Button, so Perplexity's assistant becomes a one-press hotkey[1]. The setup lays out a route to ask questions even while moving around or working with both hands occupied. Expanded language support and further feature improvements will be announced through channels such as Perplexity's official X (formerly Twitter) account @perplexity_ai[1].

Perplexity, which positions itself as an AI answer engine that returns real-time responses with inline citations, has reported handling more than 100 million questions per week globally[1]. The company's approach of designing search and generation as a single end-to-end experience now extends another step forward with Labs and the voice assist update.

Summary

Perplexity Labs is a new feature offered to Pro users from May 29, 2025, capable of automatically generating reports, spreadsheets, dashboards, and even lightweight web apps in around 10 minutes — a full-fledged research automation mode. The lineup of three modes — Search, Research, and Labs — has been laid out clearly, and the three pillars of code generation, asset management, and mini-app development bring everything from information gathering to output creation into a single mode. The simultaneous addition of voice assist on iOS extends the picture beyond the desktop to include hands-busy, on-the-go use. The move marks a step beyond an AI search engine, toward a product direction where the AI assistant itself directly delivers finished outputs.

Source: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000008.000157647.html