Perplexity AI valued at $18 billion after new $100 million raise
Perplexity AI’s new funding fuels competition with Google and boosts its valuation by $4 billion.
AI startup Perplexity AI has raised $100 million in new funding, pushing its valuation to $18 billion, Bloomberg has reported. The deal reflects growing investor interest in AI tools amid the continued rise of chatbots and AI-powered search agents.
The funding follows a previous round from earlier in the year, which valued the company at $14 billion. Perplexity’s rapid valuation growth highlights the pace at which leading AI startups are expanding in the current market climate.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Perplexity was previously in advanced talks to raise $500 million at the earlier valuation. Venture capital firm Accel had been expected to lead that round. Other reports in March suggested that Perplexity aimed to raise as much as $1 billion.
The company has been making moves to challenge major tech incumbents. Just last week, it launched a new AI-powered web browser called ‘Comet’. The tool is designed to compete with Google Chrome by integrating advanced AI search functionality directly into browsing.
Perplexity is backed by Nvidia and is positioning itself at the intersection of search, generative AI, and user experience. Industry observers view its fast-growing valuation as a sign of heightened investor confidence in AI-native platforms.
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