In a bold forecast about the future of work, Perplexity AI’s CEO Aravind Srinivas has stated that AI browsers like Perplexity will completely automate two major job roles across every office in the world. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the digital landscape, Srinivas’ remarks underscore a rapidly shifting work environment where traditional roles are being reevaluated in light of advanced AI capabilities.
The two roles Aravind Srinivas believes are on the brink of full automation are:
- The Research Assistant
- The Executive Assistant
According to the tech visionary, the AI browser of the future won’t just retrieve information, but understand and synthesize it—performing tasks that were until recently dependent on human intelligence and interpretation. This includes reading, summarizing, answering follow-up queries, creating content, managing communication, and organizing digital workflows, all at scale and in real-time.
What is Perplexity AI’s AI Browser?
Perplexity AI, often compared to ChatGPT and Google Bard, is an AI-native search engine and assistant hybrid that utilizes large language models to provide conversational, accurate, and dynamic search results. Rather than offering a list of blue links like traditional search engines, Perplexity provides direct answers, complete with citations, context, and continuity.
Its AI browser is trained to understand context, intent, and nuance, making it exceptionally powerful in tackling knowledge work traditionally handled by research or administrative professionals.
Role 1: The Research Assistant—Being Automated in Real-Time
Srinivas asserts that AI browsers already perform most tasks that research assistants do, often with greater speed and consistency. These include:
- Gathering information across multiple sources
- Summarizing complex topics
- Answering layered follow-up questions
- Preparing briefs, outlines, and analytical notes
- Translating and fact-checking across languages and domains
In offices worldwide—across marketing, legal, journalism, consulting, education, finance, and tech—the role of research assistant is rapidly morphing into one of AI orchestration, where humans guide the tool rather than do the digging themselves.
Efficiency gains in this domain are already visible, with some reports noting time savings of up to 60% in research-based roles thanks to AI assistance.
| Task | Previously Done By | Now Done By | Time Saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competitive analysis | Research assistant | AI Browser | 50–70% |
| Policy research for legal docs | Legal assistant | AI Browser | 60% |
| Market trend summaries | Business analyst | AI Browser | 55% |
| Scientific paper synthesis | Research interns | AI Browser | 65% |
Role 2: The Executive Assistant—Next on the Automation List
The second role Srinivas believes AI will completely transform is that of the executive assistant—a job traditionally responsible for calendar management, communication coordination, task prioritization, and decision support.
With advanced integrations, AI browsers like Perplexity are increasingly capable of:
- Managing meeting schedules based on preferences and time zones
- Summarizing long email threads or Slack channels
- Drafting professional correspondence
- Reminding users of follow-ups and urgent items
- Prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance
While these responsibilities once required deep organizational knowledge and human discretion, AI systems are becoming increasingly capable of contextual reasoning and real-time decision-making, traits essential to a competent executive assistant.
| Executive Assistant Task | AI Capability Level (2025) | Human Dependence |
|---|---|---|
| Calendar optimization | High | Low |
| Drafting responses | High | Medium |
| Task prioritization | Medium | Medium |
| Travel planning and logistics | High | Low |
| Personal judgment calls | Low | High |
Why These Two Jobs?
Srinivas argues that these roles are both highly repetitive and information-centric, making them perfect candidates for automation. Unlike creative or emotionally nuanced roles, research and executive assistant jobs operate on predictable patterns and objectives, which LLM-powered AI systems are trained to handle.
Further, these roles often serve as bottlenecks in organizational workflows, and streamlining them through AI leads to enhanced productivity, reduced costs, and faster execution.
The Rise of the AI-First Office
The prediction aligns with a broader trend toward AI-first business operations. Many startups and corporations now onboard employees with AI tools, not just for experimentation but as essential workflow components.
Notable trends emerging in the AI-first office include:
- Automated daily standup reports using AI tools like Notion AI and Perplexity
- Project update summaries generated from project management tools like Asana or Trello
- Real-time AI-assisted meeting notes and follow-ups using tools like Otter.ai and Fireflies
- Knowledge base auto-generation via AI querying platforms
These advancements point to a future where information bottlenecks are eliminated, and decisions are made faster, thanks to AI’s constant, real-time data processing.
Will AI Replace Humans Entirely?
Despite these developments, Srinivas insists the goal is not to eliminate jobs but to elevate human productivity. “These tools are not about replacing people. They’re about removing drudgery, so humans can focus on creative, strategic, and interpersonal work,” he said in a recent tech summit.
Upskilling, according to him, is crucial. Professionals in administrative or research roles must now reimagine their functions as AI operators, verifiers, or supervisors, ensuring that AI output aligns with ethical and organizational standards.
Ethical Considerations
As AI begins automating roles with high information sensitivity, several ethical concerns emerge:
- Data privacy in executive communication and company strategies
- AI bias in content summaries or information prioritization
- Over-reliance on automation, leading to diminished human judgment
Srinivas acknowledged these concerns and emphasized Perplexity AI’s commitment to transparency, auditability, and user control in AI output. Their models are built with the option for human verification, feedback loops, and layered safety mechanisms.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Perplexity and AI in Offices
As AI tools become more integrated into everyday workflows, the very definition of work is changing. Perplexity plans to launch more deep integrations with productivity platforms, allowing their AI browser to not just search and summarize, but take action within enterprise tools.
Future updates may allow:
- Direct Slack or Teams integration for seamless task handling
- AI assistants for HR functions, including recruitment screening and onboarding FAQs
- Finance department support, including budgeting insights and report generation
For Perplexity AI, the aim is clear: become the default interface for all office knowledge and task management.
Conclusion
Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas’ vision of the AI browser automating both research assistant and executive assistant roles is not speculative—it’s already unfolding. As organizations increasingly adopt AI-first approaches, the nature of work is being redefined. Jobs once seen as essential human roles are now being streamlined through intelligent automation, setting the stage for a leaner, faster, and smarter digital workplace.
While this shift brings efficiency, it also demands reskilling, ethical consideration, and a new mindset, where AI is viewed not as a threat, but as a collaborative partner.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only. All references to AI capabilities, roles, and company plans are based on publicly available insights and do not constitute an official product roadmap or employment advisory.
