Perplexity AI, Inc. is an AI-powered “answer engine” that combines real-time web retrieval with large language models to deliver direct, cited responses instead of traditional link lists. Founded in 2022 and headquartered in San Francisco, the company is designed around retrieval-augmented generation (RAG): for each query, Perplexity searches the live web, selects sources, and then synthesizes an answer with inline citations so users can verify where information comes from. The product is accessible via web, mobile apps, browser extensions, and an API, and is used by individuals and teams for research, writing, competitive analysis, and general knowledge discovery.
By late 2025, Perplexity reported more than 30 million monthly active users and roughly 780 million queries or visits per month, supported by a subscription-led business model (Perplexity Pro and Enterprise tiers) supplemented by advertising and commerce integrations. The company has raised roughly $1.2 billion across multiple funding rounds and, in September 2025, closed a $200 million round at a reported $20 billion valuation—up from approximately $500 million in early 2024, reflecting rapid revenue growth and investor conviction around AI-native search.
Perplexity is expanding from a standalone answer engine into a broader platform. Its Comet browser, launched in mid-2025 and rolled out globally later in the year, integrates the answer engine and an AI assistant directly into the browsing experience. Enterprise features allow teams to query both internal documents and the public web, while APIs and partnerships with telecom and device makers extend Perplexity into new distribution channels. At the same time, the company faces scrutiny over web-content licensing and browser security, as publishers and security researchers raise questions about how AI search interacts with intellectual-property and cybersecurity norms.