Perplexity emerges as a new contender in the search market

Perplexity, a new AI-based startup that is backed by Jeff Bezos, has recently emerged as a notable Google challenger, providing a clean, conversational, and ad-free alternative to search results. The startup's answer engine or search engine, already used by approximately 10 million users monthly, presents linked sources supporting each response at the top of the page in a clear and concise format.

The company operates with fewer than 40 employees in San Francisco and based on the data, it has become an influential player in the search space. Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas envisions a shift in search towards concise, high-quality, and trusted answers with in-line citations.

The startup has been in operation for less than 2 years and has recently gained significant attention, with almost 53 million visits in November and $73.6 million raised in Series B funding.

Google's ongoing challenges have prompted critiques from both inside and outside the company. Perplexity's approach aligns with the evolving landscape of AI-driven search, positioning itself as an alternative that emphasizes user respect and quality answers. The startup aims to carve a niche in the evolving AI assistant segment, believing that Google doesn't have a monopoly in this space.

Perplexity's tagline, "Where knowledge begins," reflects its ambition to play a critical role in the future of search.