In a bold move to challenge the dominance of search engine giant Google, Jeff Bezos has recently invested an undisclosed amount in Perplexity, an innovative start-up that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize the way people search for information online. The total investment in Perplexity stands at an impressive $74 million, bringing the start-up’s valuation to a staggering $520 million.
Perplexity’s unique approach to search involves utilizing OpenAI’s GPT technology to power its chatbot-style search engine. Unlike traditional search engines that provide a list of website links in response to a query, Perplexity offers direct text responses, drawing information from various online sources to provide accurate and insightful answers.
Aravind Srinivas, the CEO of Perplexity, emphasized the disruptive potential of their search engine, stating, “If you can directly answer somebody’s question, nobody needs those 10 blue links.” He further highlighted that a more advanced version of Perplexity’s search engine, powered by OpenAI’s cutting-edge GPT-4 technology, will soon be available for a subscription fee of $20 per month.
The recent Series B funding round saw Perplexity secure $73.6 million from renowned venture capital firms and prominent figures in the tech industry. Investors include IVP, NEA, Elad Gil, Nat Friedman, and Databricks, along with new additions such as NVIDIA, Jeff Bezos through Bezos Expeditions Fund, Tobi Lutke, Bessemer Venture Partners, Naval Ravikant, Balaji Srinivasan, Guillermo Rauch, Austen Allred, Factorial Funds, and Kindred Ventures.
With Perplexity gaining significant traction in the market, the Wall Street Journal reports that its website and mobile app collectively attract 10 million users on a monthly basis. The service recorded an impressive 53 million visits in November alone, a substantial increase from the 2.2 million visits it garnered when initially launched in December 2022.
In a world where information is key, Perplexity’s chatbot-style search engine has the potential to disrupt the industry and offer users a more efficient and personalized search experience. As Jeff Bezos joins forces with this innovative start-up, the future of online search looks poised for transformation.
The source of the article is from the blog regiozottegem.be