Perplexity's search engine combines web indexes with AI models to provide a conversational, ad-free search experience. The platform also allows users to explore relevant sources and citations along with their search results. The company offers a free version of the platform, as well as a Pro version for $20/month that offers additional features. Despite significant growth since its launch a year ago, Perplexity faces challenges in its mission to compete with established search engines like Google and Microsoft.
Key takeaways:
- Perplexity AI, a California-based startup, has raised $73.6 million in a series B round of funding to build out its AI-driven search engine offering.
- Several tech visionaries, including Jeff Bezos and Shopify CEO Tobi Lutke, have backed the startup, which now has an estimated valuation of over $500 million.
- Perplexity offers a knowledge search platform that combines web indexes with a range of AI models to provide answers to user queries in a conversational manner, aiming to compete with Google and Microsoft.
- Despite significant growth with 10 million monthly active users, Perplexity faces challenges in its mission to serve the entire planet's unbounded curiosity, as Google and Microsoft are also integrating generative AI into their search engines.