Perplexity will share revenue from its AI searches with media outlets

Artificial intelligence tool Perplexity announced Monday (25) that it will begin paying millions of dollars to media outlets as part of a new model to share search profits with news companies.

Vehicles that partner with the company will soon receive payments when their work is used by Perplexity's browser or AI assistant to respond to queries or requests, the San Francisco-based startup said.

“We are compensating media with the right model for the AI ​​era,” the company announced on its blog.

Payments will be managed through a subscription service to be launched in the coming months called Comet Plus, which Perplexity describes as a program that ensures outlets and journalists benefit from the new business models that AI offers.

A common fund of $42.5 million (R$230 million) has been set aside to share with the media, and is expected to increase over time, he added.

“As the web has evolved beyond information to include knowledge, action, and opportunities, excellent content from media outlets and journalists becomes even more important,” explained the Perplexity team.

Perplexity is one of Silicon Valley's most promising startups, whose AI-powered search engine is often cited as a potential disruptor to Google.

However, the company has been sued by outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun, which claim it unfairly benefits from its work.

A revenue-sharing model from Perplexity would be a conciliatory gesture towards the media and would help dispel accusations of opportunism.

Unlike ChatGPT or Anthropic's Claude, Perplexity provides up-to-date answers that often include links to source materials, allowing users to verify the information.