Perplexity AI, a search company founded in 2022, is in talks for a new funding round aiming to raise $500 million. According to The Wall Street Journal, if the deal goes through, it would more than double the startup’s valuation compared to its $3 billion mark after the previous funding round led by SoftBank.
Perplexity specializes in an AI-powered search engine that operates in a chat interface, answering queries in real time and providing transparent information sources. The platform receives about 15 million queries daily and generates approximately $50 million in annual revenue. By integrating multiple AI models, such as GPT-4, Claude, and its own developments, Perplexity delivers accurate and context-rich answers, making it a unique alternative to traditional search engines.
The startup has already attracted world-class investors, including Nvidia and Jeff Bezos, but faces accusations of violating publishers’ rights. Some media companies, including The New York Times, accuse Perplexity of unauthorized use of content, to which CEO Aravind Srinivas responded that the company is open to dialogue with publishers and does not seek conflict.
