Perplexity AI is an innovative AI-powered answer engine and conversational search tool that combines advanced language models with real-time web search capabilities to provide accurate, cited responses to user queries. Launched in 2022, this rapidly growing platform offers both free and premium services across web, mobile, and browser extension formats, aiming to revolutionize how users access and interact with information online.
Core Features
Leveraging natural language processing, this platform offers a suite of powerful features designed to enhance user experience and information retrieval:
• AI-Powered Search: Generates detailed answers with inline citations using advanced language models12
• Perplexity Copilot: Guides users through deeper topic exploration1
• Voice and Text Input: Supports both spoken and written queries for instant responses1
• Thread Follow-Up: Enables continuous conversations for comprehensive understanding1
• Multimodal Capabilities: Incorporates image recognition and analysis2
• Personal Library: Allows users to save and organize their search history and discoveries1
The platform's commitment to credibility is evident in its provision of cited sources for every answer, ensuring users can verify information independently13.
Business Model
Operating on a freemium model, Perplexity AI offers a free version with basic search functionalities powered by its standalone large language model (LLM). For users seeking advanced capabilities, Perplexity Pro provides access to cutting-edge models like GPT-4, Claude 3.5, Mistral Large, Llama 3, and an Experimental Perplexity Model1. The premium tier also unlocks additional features such as file uploads, image generation, and API access21.
History and Development
Founded in 2022 by a team of seasoned engineers with backgrounds in AI research and machine learning, Perplexity AI quickly gained traction in the tech industry. The founding team includes:
• Aravind Srinivas (CEO): Former AI researcher at OpenAI
• Denis Yarats (CTO): Ex-AI research scientist at Meta
• Johnny Ho (Chief Strategy Officer): Former engineer at Quora and quantitative trader
• Andy Konwinski: Part of the founding team at Databricks
Since its inception, the company has raised $165 million in funding, achieving a valuation of over $1 billion. Notable investors include Jeff Bezos, Nvidia, Databricks, and prominent figures in the tech industry such as Susan Wojcicki, Jeff Dean, and Yann LeCun1. As of early 2024, Perplexity AI boasts approximately 10 million monthly users, showcasing its rapid growth and adoption in the AI-powered search market1.
Controversies
Accusations of plagiarism and unethical web scraping practices have emerged as significant challenges for the company. In June 2024, Forbes alleged that Perplexity had plagiarized one of its articles, while Wired accused the platform of illicitly scraping content from various websites, including restricted sections1. The company defended its actions by distinguishing between user-requested summarization and unauthorized web crawling, likening its practices to standard journalistic information aggregation. In response to these controversies, Perplexity has begun exploring revenue-sharing partnerships with publishers as a potential solution to address content usage concerns1.
