Perplexity AI: The Answer Engine That Sets Itself Apart from Chatbots
Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas believes that the world doesn’t need another chatbot. Instead, Perplexity aims to be an “answer engine” that provides comprehensive answers with sourced information. The idea behind Perplexity comes from Srinivas’ academic background, where every statement requires a citation for credibility. To achieve this, Perplexity is built to be grounded in real facts rather than making things up. Recently, the company raised $74 million in Series B funding led by IVP to scale its platform and handle the increasing number of users.
Perplexity’s Approach to Search and Follow-Up Questions
While Perplexity offers follow-up answers to questions, its ultimate goal is to understand the user’s intent right from the initial response, reducing the need for follow-up questions. The company wants to improve the AI-powered search experience and move away from the chatbot interface. The team behind Perplexity includes developers and engineers from OpenAI, Meta, Quora, and Databrick. They are focused on being model agnostic and using whichever model works best for their specific tasks and products.
An Optimistic Outlook on Generative AI
Despite concerns about generative AI disrupting the job market, Srinivas remains optimistic about the future of the technology. He sees generative AI as a utility tool rather than a replacement for humans. Perplexity aims to be like a toaster in your house—an AI tool that you use without questioning why it exists. Srinivas emphasizes that AI should be non-judgmental, always ready to respond, and help lower barriers to learning new subjects. He wants Perplexity to be an accurate answer engine that focuses on being factually right all the time.
Hot Take: Perplexity AI’s Unique Position in the AI Landscape
Perplexity AI sets itself apart from the crowded chatbot market by positioning itself as an answer engine. With its focus on providing comprehensive answers with sourced information, Perplexity aims to be grounded in real facts. The recent $74 million Series B funding led by IVP will help scale the platform to meet the increasing user demand. While many fear the disruptive potential of generative AI, Srinivas remains optimistic and believes that AI should serve as a utility tool rather than a replacement for humans. By staying focused on accuracy and being non-judgmental, Perplexity aims to be a valuable resource for users seeking reliable information.