A new search engine startup called Perplexity AI is gaining serious traction in a market dominated by giants. Consumers are intrigued, finding value in Perplexity's unique and adaptable platform. 

So, how did these guys gain a foothold so quickly? Could they replace Google Search? The meteoric rise of Perplexity may just provide an intriguing case study.

Perplexity Sees Surge in Monthly Search Queries

Perplexity, an AI search company, has achieved a landmark growth, now receiving as many monthly search queries as it did throughout the entire previous year. This rapid increase, as reported, saw Perplexity handling 250 million queries last month alone compared to 500 million over all of the previous year. Let's explore why and how Perplexity has experienced this surge.

A New Contender in the AI Search Field

Perplexity utilizes a large language model akin to ChatGPT. However, what sets it apart is its reliance on the most current data available from the web, not just its initial training data. While it’s true that ChatGPT can now also search the web, this capability wasn’t available when Perplexity was first launched, making it particularly useful and innovative at the time.

The Rise of AI in Search Engines

AI has significantly transformed the landscape of search engines. Traditional engines like Google were initially slow to integrate AI, giving newer contenders like Perplexity an advantage. Perplexity's Chief Business Officer, Dmitry Shevelenko, emphasized the company’s edge in terms of velocity and focus, allowing it to maneuver more swiftly compared to larger, more established rivals.

Perplexity vs. Traditional Search Engines

The competition between AI-based search engines and traditional ones like Google is becoming more pronounced. Google, owning the largest traditional search engine globally, is still adapting to the rapid advancements in AI. This delay has created a unique gap that Perplexity has exploited.

The Competitive Landscape: SearchGPT

Notably, OpenAI has recently introduced a new competitor named SearchGPT, directly challenging Perplexity. The outcome of this rivalry remains to be seen, and it will be fascinating to observe how both companies evolve their offerings to maintain or grow their market share.

The Plagiarism Controversy and Its Resolution

Perplexity isn’t without its controversies. Several publications accused it of being trained on their content without permission, which led to allegations of plagiarism. Dmitry Shevelenko addressed these criticisms by making changes such as displaying citations more prominently and avoiding summarizing any content from websites. This shift has notably increased transparency.

Addressing Publisher Concerns: The Revenue-Sharing Program

In a positive move to placate concerns among publishers, Perplexity introduced a new revenue-sharing program. According to Shevelenko, 50 publishers have already expressed interest in joining this program. This initiative involves compensating publishers for the use of their cited content, potentially mending relationships and fostering collaboration.