What is Perplexity? The AI Startup Gaining Apple and Meta’s Notice as Google and OpenAI Keep Shut
The new player AI search engine is big-tent grabbing notice—and it’s only just begun.
Meet Perplexity: It’s not just another AI company
Hi all, if you have not yet heard of Perplexity, do not worry—you are not alone. But tech enthusiasts and market leaders such as Apple and Meta are paying attention and sitting up straight, and it’s no wonder why. The small but rapidly growing startup is doing something unique with AI: it’s combining search and chatbot technology in a simple way that just works and that is clean and accessible.
While other companies like OpenAI and Google have been dominating the news headlines with their gargantuan-sized language models, Perplexity is making its niche to be heard by doing answers, not ads.
What makes it different?
Perplexity’s gigantic pitch is what others have called an “AI-powered search engine,” but that’s more of a chatterbox than Google. You ask it a question, and it gives you answers back straight up—complete with footnotes, so you can follow the trail where the information came from. It’s like talking to someone intelligent who also does research.
It’s built with semantics. Instead of making assumptions or hallucinating solutions out of thin air, Perplexity provides you with live answers from directly within sources you can rely on. That’s less hallucination and more confidence in what you’re reading.
And there’s more to it? It won’t stuff ads down your throat, nor will it track you—two things that human beings are starting to care a whole lot more about when they search the web.
Big tech takes notice
Perplexity’s strategy hasn’t fallen on deaf ears. Apple and Meta have taken notice of the firm, reports indicate, with both of the two giants keen to collaborate or draw inspiration from Perplexity. Subtlety is the order of the day, but the attention is genuine—and it’s a changing arithmetic on the part of tech giants regarding search’s future.
Apple, for instance, has long wanted to enhance Siri, and Perplexity’s fast, responsive-style responses could be just what the doctor ordered. Meta is also keen to integrate more advanced AI-fueled tools into search and content delivery. These two operators can smell the bacon here.
In the meantime, Google and OpenAI, the two biggest players in the AI space, haven’t budged on Perplexity yet. Maybe they’re just observing from a distance. Or maybe observing to observe what will happen. Either way, the contrast is fascinating.
Why should you care?
Even if you’re not very computer-savvy, Perplexity can change the way you web search. It’s attempting to be a replacement for regular search engines for people who want answers quickly—without having to navigate through a row of links or trudge through paid advertisements.
Take asking to type, “What is the best laptop to edit photos with?” and getting a clear, non-pixelated answer with review links to look at. That’s what Perplexity is attempting to supply.
And, unlike some of the other AI apps, it’s already live and free to use. No kit, no subscription, just your interest.
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The bottom line
Perplexity may not be a household name where you come from, but it’s already shaking Silicon Valley to its core. With backing from serious investors and increasing attention from the tech behemoths, it’s one of the AI startups to watch out for in 2025.
Whether you’re a technology buff or just need smarter search results, this is one company you should know about.
