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How Perplexity.ai Is Pioneering The Future Of Search

Sep 06, 2023 - forbes.com
Aravind Srinivas and his team at Perplexity.ai are developing an "answer engine" as an alternative to traditional search engines like Google and Bing. The engine, powered by large language models (LLMs), allows users to ask questions directly and receive concise, accurate answers supported by a curated set of sources. This user-centric approach aims to transform the way we discover, access, and consume knowledge online. Srinivas believes that LLMs will change the existing advertising dynamics of the web, with advertisers focusing more on high-quality content that an LLM considers citation-worthy.

Perplexity.ai started by bootstrapping a database by scraping Twitter and powering search over that, which became BirdSQL. The company also uses an existing search index that pulls content from the web and organizes it. Perplexity operates an additional layer of abstraction on top of this content, which they synthesize and organize even further. Srinivas emphasizes the importance of user experience, aiming to make the product as simple and intuitive as possible. He also highlights the need to earn users' trust and grow the user base by having a truly excellent product.

Key takeaways:

  • Aravind Srinivas and his team at Perplexity.ai are building an "answer engine" powered by large language models (LLMs), which provides users with direct, accurate answers to their questions, backed by a curated set of sources.
  • Perplexity.ai's model differs from traditional search engines as it places users at its center, not advertisers, potentially transforming the structure of the internet and the way we discover and consume knowledge online.
  • Perplexity.ai ensures accuracy by using a modern version of PageRank to build a trust map of the web, using heuristics and data-driven learning from past queries to improve results.
  • Aravind advises fellow founders to start with what they love, be patient, stay focused, and have a high bias for action, iterating on their idea in public and gathering feedback from users.
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