Athira Sethu
Kochi, 21 March 2025
Perplexity AI is in discussions to raise funds at an $18 billion valuation, a report by Reuters said. The new valuation is twice the reported $9 billion valuation in November.
Perplexity, a startup that uses AI to search the web to give users information, has backing from high-profile venture capital funds like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Japan’s SoftBank Group.
The company is looking to raise between $500 million and $1 billion in its latest funding round, the report mentioned. The increasing use of chatbots and AI agents, which can perform tasks for users, has created a surge in interest from investors in AI startups like Perplexity.
In an effort to maintain competitiveness, Perplexity has been focusing on developing the platform’s features. One of the recent developments at Perplexity is a web browser named Comet. The browser does not just assist users in discovering information but employs AI in recognizing intricate questions, performing tasks, and making judgments. The “Deep Research” feature of the platform is programmed to perform lengthy research by surfing through numerous sources and offering extensive reports.
In spite of its success, Perplexity has incurred the wrath of some media outlets, including News Corp-owned companies, Forbes, and Wired. Such organizations have accused the startup of plagiarism, saying that it replicates content. In an attempt to counter these claims, Perplexity has launched a publisher partnership programme that will collaborate with news companies directly.
As demand for AI technologies rises, Perplexity’s increased valuation shows increased investors’ interest. OpenAI, which has developed ChatGPT, also raised $6.6 billion recently, taking it to a valuation of $157 billion, making it one of the largest private companies globally.
