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Perplexity Secures $200 Million at $20 Billion Valuation, Report Says

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AI startup Perplexity has finalized commitments for $200 million in new funding, giving the company a valuation of $20 billion, according to The Information. The report, citing a source familiar with the matter, has not been independently confirmed by Reuters, and Perplexity did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Led by CEO Aravind Srinivas, Perplexity has been rapidly positioning itself as a challenger in the AI space. The company, backed by Nvidia, has developed Comet, an AI-powered browser capable of performing tasks on behalf of users.

In August, Perplexity made headlines with a bold but unsuccessful $34.5 billion unsolicited cash bid for Alphabet’s Chrome browser — an offer nearly double its current valuation. If accepted, the deal would have given Perplexity access to Chrome’s three billion users worldwide, dramatically expanding its reach and strengthening its position against competitors such as OpenAI, which is also building an AI-first browser.

The new funding round signals strong investor confidence in Perplexity’s strategy, even as the company looks to scale up amid intensifying competition in AI-driven consumer technology.

Nvidia-backed Perplexity launches AI-powered Comet browser to challenge Google Chrome

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Nvidia-backed startup Perplexity AI announced on Wednesday the launch of Comet, a new AI-powered web browser designed to compete with Alphabet’s dominant Google Chrome. The browser aims to revolutionize web navigation by using intelligent AI agents capable of thinking, acting, and deciding on users’ behalf, streamlining tasks into a conversational experience.

Google Chrome currently dominates the global browser market with a 68% share as of June, far ahead of competitors like Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox.

Comet offers users a unified interface where they can ask questions, perform tasks such as booking meetings, compare products, and summarize complex content—all via a built-in AI assistant. The browser targets simplifying workflows with natural language interactions.

Currently, Comet is accessible to subscribers of Perplexity Max, which costs $200 per month, with plans for a wider rollout by invite over the summer.

Backed by investors including Jeff Bezos, SoftBank, and Nvidia, Perplexity is positioning Comet not only as a browser competitor but also exploring new revenue avenues through advertising and e-commerce integration.

The move follows similar AI enhancements by competitors: OpenAI added a search engine feature to ChatGPT, and Google launched AI Overviews, an AI-driven search summary tool, last May.

Comet prioritizes user privacy by storing data locally and not using personal information for AI model training—a key differentiator likely to attract privacy-focused users.

However, Perplexity faces criticism from media companies like News Corp, Forbes, Wired, and Dow Jones for allegedly using their content without permission or payment. In response, Perplexity has introduced a publisher partnership program aimed at fostering collaboration with news organizations.

Perplexity AI in Talks to Raise Funds at $18 Billion Valuation Amid AI Boom

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Perplexity AI, an emerging player in the AI search tool market, is in discussions to raise funds at a new valuation of $18 billion, a significant increase from its previous $9 billion valuation in November. The startup, which is backed by Nvidia, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, and Japan’s SoftBank Group, is capitalizing on the surging demand for AI-driven search tools.

The company aims to raise between $500 million and $1 billion in this funding round, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The heightened interest in AI-powered chatbots and virtual agents has fueled investor enthusiasm for startups like Perplexity AI, which competes with established players such as Google’s Gemini and Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

Perplexity has been enhancing its platform to improve its competitive edge. Recently, it introduced a new web browser, Comet, which integrates AI to understand complex queries, perform tasks, and make decisions. Its “Deep Research” feature allows users to conduct in-depth research by searching through numerous sources, offering a more comprehensive overview on various topics.

Despite facing criticism from media outlets like News Corp-owned Forbes and Wired over accusations of plagiarism, Perplexity has forged partnerships with publishers to address these concerns.

The ongoing fundraising talks underscore the growing potential of AI startups, as companies like OpenAI also continue to dominate the sector with massive valuations, such as their $157 billion valuation following a $6.6 billion funding round in October.