The valuation of new AI giants has surged, with AI search startup Perplexity's valuation rising to $18 billion within two months

Under the fierce competition and capital pursuit in the field of artificial intelligence, Perplexity's valuation skyrocketed from $14 billion to $18 billion in just two months, and its market position as a challenger to search giant Google is being rapidly recognized. On July 17, media reports indicated that AI search startup Perplexity was valued at $14 billion when it completed a funding round in May this year. After the financing ended, new investors proactively approached the company and were informed that they could purchase equity at a valuation of $18 billion. This rapid increase in valuation coincides with the company's active expansion of its product line and revenue sources. Last week, Perplexity launched an AI web browser named "Comet" for its paid users and continues to expand its presence in the advertising and e-commerce sectors, showcasing a clearer commercialization path and growth potential in its competition with Google and other AI startups. Valuation Surge and Financing Details Perplexity's valuation growth trajectory is extremely steep. In the past 18 months, the company has completed five new funding rounds. Its valuation jumped from about $500 million at the beginning of 2024 to $14 billion in May. Reports indicate that the company sought a valuation of $18 billion during the May financing but faced resistance from investors at that time. However, as the deal was completed, enthusiasm in the capital markets did not wane, and new investors ultimately accepted this higher price tag, pushing its valuation to achieve a new breakthrough in a short period. Strong business data is the core factor supporting Perplexity's high valuation. Reports indicate that the company's annualized revenue—projected based on sales from the most recent month—has surged from $35 million in August last year to $150 million this month. According to reports, Perplexity's CEO Aravind Srinivas stated that the number of users served by the company is approximately 30 million. In terms of revenue model, most of Perplexity's income comes from subscription services, with users paying between $20 and $200 per month for additional features. In addition to the AI-driven search engine, Perplexity is continuously expanding its product boundaries. The company is one of the first chatbot developers to explore advertising and e-commerce revenue, with competitors Google and OpenAI also following suit in recent months. Perplexity launched the AI web browser Comet last week. This browser allows the system to act as the user's "agent," executing tasks such as shopping, summarizing social media feeds, and sending emails through voice and text commands. Srinivas stated in an interview: The endgame is the browser and the agent, which can not only perform tasks but also integrate all contexts. If you can do these two things at scale and reliably, you can win big in the AI race Risk Warning and Disclaimer The market has risks, and investment requires caution. This article does not constitute personal investment advice and does not take into account the specific investment goals, financial situation, or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article are suitable for their specific circumstances. Investment based on this is at one's own risk