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Monday November 10, 2025

Perplexity AI Hits 10M Daily Users, Challenges Google Search

Person using dual monitors and smartphone, all displaying the Google search homepage in a modern workspace. Perplexity AI has transformed from a startup to a $20 billion company in record time. We're witnessing an AI search revolution as this conversational search engine now processes approximately 30 million queries daily, with over 20% month-over-month growth reported in May 2025. In fact, Perplexity answers more than 150 million questions globally each week. What is Perplexity AI exactly? It combines the power of a search engine with conversational AI, providing precise, well-sourced answers with real-time citations. Unlike traditional search engines or ChatGPT, Perplexity AI is designed to eliminate friction by delivering clean, accurate responses backed by real sources. Additionally, the company has shown remarkable business success, raising $25.6 million in Series A funding just seven months after its inception. With features like citations, follow-up prompts, and pro tools, we can now explore how this rapidly growing platform is positioning itself as a serious challenger to Google's long-standing search dominance.

Perplexity AI Reaches 10M Daily Users Milestone

Perplexity AI has reached a significant new milestone, now serving more than 10 million daily active users across the globe ^[1]. This achievement marks a critical turning point for the AI-powered search company as it continues its rapid ascent in the competitive search market.

User growth trajectory since 2022

The growth story of Perplexity AI represents one of the most impressive trajectories in modern tech history. When the platform launched in 2022, it processed a mere 3,000 queries on its very first day ^[2]. Fast forward to 2025, the company now handles approximately 30 million queries daily ^[3], representing a staggering 10,000-fold increase in just three years. Overall, the platform has expanded to 15 million active monthly users on its website alone ^[3], while the combined user base across all platforms, including its mobile app, reaches 22 million active users ^[4]. This extraordinary expansion demonstrates that users aren't merely experimenting with Perplexity AI as a novelty—they're adopting it as their primary search tool. The platform maintains an impressive 85% user retention rate ^[4], with 90% of users returning within 30 days of their first visit ^[3], indicating substantial user satisfaction and recurring value.

Query volume and engagement metrics

Beyond simple user counts, Perplexity AI's query volume reveals the depth of user engagement. In May 2025, the platform processed an astounding 780 million search queries ^[2], which translates to more than 100 million queries weekly ^[3]. This represents more than triple the volume it handled in August 2024, when it processed 230 million monthly queries ^[3]. User engagement metrics further illustrate why Perplexity AI has become so sticky. On average, visitors spend 23 minutes and 10 seconds per session ^[3], significantly longer than typical search platforms. During these sessions, users view approximately 4.64 pages ^[3], showing active exploration across multiple queries. These metrics point to a fundamental shift in how people seek information online—moving from fragmented search results to comprehensive, conversational answers.

CEO Aravind Srinivas comments on milestone

Perplexity AI's co-founder and CEO Aravind Srinivas has been vocal about the company's growth trajectory and future ambitions. After announcing the 10 million active user milestone, Srinivas highlighted sustained month-over-month growth exceeding 20% ^[2]. He also pointed out that India alone accounts for more than one million users ^[1], reflecting the platform's global appeal. Srinivas isn't just celebrating current achievements; he's setting ambitious targets for the future. At Bloomberg's Tech Summit, he announced a bold goal for Perplexity AI to reach 1 billion weekly queries by the end of 2025 ^[4]. If achieved, this would represent more than a 30% increase from current weekly volumes. Given the platform's demonstrated growth rate, this projection appears feasible rather than merely aspirational. "I think we are going to see a lot more faster movement in the AI revolution in India compared to the previous web and mobile revolution, where we were a little behind the rest of the world," Srinivas stated ^[1], highlighting his optimism about continued global expansion, particularly in emerging markets. The journey from 3,000 queries on launch day to 780 million monthly searches showcases how rapidly AI-powered search experiences are gaining mainstream adoption—and how Perplexity AI has positioned itself at the forefront of this revolution.

Perplexity Expands Product Suite to Meet Demand

As user numbers surge, Perplexity AI has rapidly expanded its product ecosystem to accommodate growing demand for AI-powered search solutions. Throughout 2025, the company has introduced several groundbreaking offerings that extend its capabilities beyond basic search functionality.

Launch of Perplexity Pro and Sonar model

To meet sophisticated user needs, Perplexity introduced its premium subscription service, Perplexity Pro, priced at INR 1687.61 monthly or INR 1406.62 with annual billing ^[5]. This enhanced tier delivers substantial upgrades including 10x more citations per answer, unlimited file uploads, extended access to Research features, and image generation capabilities ^[6]. Pro subscribers gain access to hundreds of Pro Searches daily and can utilize cutting-edge AI models like GPT-5, Claude Sonnet 4.5, and Gemini 2.5 Pro ^[6]. Alongside its subscription offerings, Perplexity unveiled Sonar, its proprietary in-house model built atop Llama 3.3 70B ^[7]. This specialized search model has been optimized for answer quality, factuality, and readability. According to comprehensive A/B testing, Sonar outperforms comparable models like GPT-4o mini and Claude 3.5 Haiku for user satisfaction, even approaching the performance of frontier models like GPT-4o at just a fraction of the cost ^[7]. Moreover, Sonar processes information at 1200 tokens per second—nearly 10x faster than competing models such as Gemini 2.0 Flash ^[7]. For developers seeking to integrate search capabilities, Perplexity launched the Sonar Pro API, which includes citations and source customization features ^[3]. This API has already been adopted by major companies like Zoom, enabling their users to conduct real-time searches without leaving video calls ^[3].

Introduction of Comet browser and internal search

Perhaps the most ambitious expansion came with the May 2025 launch of Comet, Perplexity's AI-native web browser ^[8][9]. Initially available exclusively to Perplexity Max subscribers through an invite-only rollout, Comet transforms conventional browsing into conversational experiences ^[8][10]. The browser enables users to highlight any text for instant explanations and maintains context across complex research sessions ^[8][10]. Perplexity furthermore developed Internal Knowledge Search, allowing Pro and Enterprise Pro users to search across both public web content and private knowledge bases simultaneously ^[11]. This feature enables teams to synthesize information from internal documents alongside real-time web data, addressing a longstanding gap between internal and external search capabilities ^[11]. Complementing this, the company introduced Spaces—customizable collaboration hubs where teams can organize research, share files, and work together with AI assistance ^[11][12].

Real-time web search and citation features

At the core of Perplexity's expanding product suite lies its commitment to factual, well-cited information. Every answer includes citations linking to original sources, enabling users to verify information independently ^[13]. The platform's Pro Search feature conducts thorough research across multiple sources, delivering detailed, organized responses ^[13]. For intensive research needs, Perplexity offers Deep Research, which automatically performs dozens of searches, processes hundreds of sources, and delivers comprehensive reports in just 2-4 minutes ^[13]. This sophisticated system employs an advanced framework mimicking human cognitive processes through iterative analysis cycles ^[13]. Notably, Perplexity's emphasis on factuality has yielded measurable results—Sonar Pro achieved an F-score of 0.858 in the SimpleQA benchmark, considerably outperforming the standard Sonar model's 0.773 F-score ^[3][14]. Through these strategic product expansions, Perplexity AI has transformed from a simple question-answering tool into a comprehensive ecosystem for information discovery and collaboration.

How Perplexity AI Challenges Google’s Dominance

The search engine landscape is experiencing its most significant disruption in decades as Perplexity AI directly confronts Google's long-established search monopoly. With innovative approaches to information retrieval, Perplexity AI is redefining how users interact with online information.

Differences in search experience and interface

Perplexity AI fundamentally reimagines the search process by eliminating the traditional list of blue links. Instead, users receive complete, conversational answers instantly. This direct-answer approach contrasts sharply with Google's results page, which often requires users to click through multiple websites to find specific information. The interface distinction is equally stark. While Google maintains its minimalist search box with paginated results, Perplexity AI presents a conversation-style interface where questions and answers flow naturally. This design encourages follow-up questions and deeper exploration of topics without starting new searches.

Perplexity AI vs ChatGPT vs Google: Key comparisons

Though both leverage artificial intelligence, Perplexity AI and ChatGPT serve different functions. Perplexity AI tool positions itself as an answer engine that delivers factual, cited responses from real-time web data. Conversely, ChatGPT functions primarily as a content generation tool trained on historical data with limited access to current information. Google remains the incumbent with vast indexing capabilities and established ad revenue models. Nevertheless, Perplexity AI browser integration creates a seamless experience by combining search functionality with conversational AI, essentially merging Google's utility with ChatGPT's conversational abilities. The Perplexity AI Pro subscription offers an upgraded experience that neither Google nor the basic ChatGPT can match—providing extensive citations, higher-quality models, and specialized research tools in one integrated package.

User behavior shift toward answer engines

Perhaps most concerning for Google is the emerging shift in user behavior. Today's users increasingly expect immediate, comprehensive answers rather than links requiring further exploration. This preference for "answer engines" over "search engines" represents a fundamental change in how people seek information online. First-time users of Perplexity AI often report significant time savings—what might take multiple Google searches and website visits can be accomplished in a single Perplexity query. This efficiency drives retention and explains why many users, especially professionals and researchers, are integrating what is Perplexity AI into their daily workflows. As this behavior shift accelerates, Google faces a strategic dilemma—maintain its profitable link-based model or evolve toward the direct-answer approach pioneered by Perplexity AI.

Legal and Ethical Challenges Surface Amid Growth

Despite its meteoric rise, Perplexity AI faces mounting legal and ethical challenges that threaten to complicate its ambitious growth trajectory. As the platform expands its footprint in the search market, both publishers and internet infrastructure providers have raised serious concerns about its business practices.

Copyright infringement lawsuits from major publishers

Legal troubles began mounting for Perplexity AI in 2024 when Rupert Murdoch's Dow Jones and New York Post filed a lawsuit claiming the startup engaged in "massive illegal copying" of their copyrighted work ^[15]. The lawsuit alleged Perplexity's AI "answer engine" copies their content without permission or compensation to generate responses to user prompts ^[16]. Subsequently, the federal court rejected Perplexity's motion to dismiss or transfer the case, allowing it to proceed to trial ^[17]. Beyond this, Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster filed a 55-page civil complaint accusing Perplexity of violating their copyrights by scraping hundreds of thousands of copyrighted online articles ^[18]. Afterward, Japanese media giants Nikkei and Asahi Shimbun jointly sued Perplexity in Tokyo, seeking ¥2.2 billion (approximately INR 1257.27 million) in damages each ^[2].

Stealth web crawler allegations

Concurrently, Perplexity faces serious accusations regarding its data collection methods. Cloudflare published research alleging that Perplexity uses "stealth crawling behavior" to evade website blocks ^[19]. According to the findings, when Perplexity encounters network blocks, it obscures its identity by modifying user agents to impersonate Google Chrome on macOS and changing source ASNs ^[19]. Cloudflare claims this behavior occurred across "tens of thousands of domains and millions of requests per day" ^[20]. As a result, Cloudflare removed Perplexity from its verified bot list and implemented new measures to block such activities ^[19]. Perplexity responded by claiming Cloudflare was "either dangerously misinformed on the basics of AI, or simply more flair than cloud" ^[21].

Company's response and revenue-sharing initiatives

In response to mounting criticism, Perplexity launched its Publishers Program, partnering with TIME, Der Spiegel, Fortune, Entrepreneur, The Texas Tribune, and WordPress.com ^[22]. This initiative includes revenue sharing from advertising through related questions features, where publishers earn a share when Perplexity generates revenue from interactions citing their content ^[22]. The company has allocated INR 3586.17 million to share with publishers through a subscription service called Comet Plus ^[23]. Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas stated, "We structured this program to ensure we have a scalable and sustainable way to align incentives for all parties" ^[22]. Nevertheless, many publishers remain skeptical, with legal proceedings continuing across multiple jurisdictions throughout 2025.

What’s Next for Perplexity AI After 10M Users?

Following its remarkable growth trajectory, Perplexity AI is strategically positioning itself for the next phase of expansion. With fresh partnerships and innovative features on the horizon, the AI search platform aims to solidify its place in the tech ecosystem.

Snapchat integration and social AI expansion

In a bold move to capture younger demographics, Perplexity AI recently announced integration with Snapchat. This partnership allows Snapchat's 750 million monthly active users to access Perplexity's answer engine directly within the social platform. Users can now pose questions through Snap's interface and receive instant, cited responses without switching applications. This strategic alliance represents Perplexity's first major social media integration, potentially opening doors for similar partnerships with other platforms.

Enterprise adoption and Airtel partnership

On the enterprise front, Perplexity AI has secured a groundbreaking partnership with Airtel, India's second-largest telecommunications provider. Through this collaboration, over 500 million Airtel customers will gain streamlined access to Perplexity AI tool directly through their service packages. Beyond telecommunications, the company has launched tailored enterprise solutions for sectors including finance, healthcare, and education. These customized deployments offer industry-specific knowledge bases and enhanced security protocols required for sensitive corporate environments.

Future roadmap: personalization, multimodal AI, and more

Looking ahead, personalization stands as a cornerstone of Perplexity's development strategy. The company plans to introduce adaptive search experiences that learn from individual usage patterns, delivering increasingly relevant results over time. Furthermore, whereas perplexity ai vs chatgpt comparisons often highlight text capabilities, Perplexity's upcoming multimodal features will process and respond to images, audio, and video inputs. Among the most anticipated developments is Perplexity's offline mode, enabling users to access previously searched information without internet connectivity. The perplexity ai browser will soon support this functionality, catering to users in regions with inconsistent internet access. Lastly, the company is expanding language support beyond English, with plans to offer native experiences in twelve additional languages by mid-2026, thereby unlocking significant growth opportunities in non-English speaking markets.

Conclusion

Perplexity AI has undoubtedly transformed the search engine landscape through its remarkable journey from startup to $20 billion valuation. The platform's explosive growth to 10 million daily active users demonstrates a significant shift in how people seek information online. Rather than navigating through pages of links, users now prefer comprehensive, conversational answers with proper citations. This rapid ascent certainly poses the most serious challenge to Google's search dominance in decades. The stark contrast between traditional search interfaces and Perplexity's conversation-style approach highlights a fundamental evolution in user expectations. Additionally, the extensive product suite—including Perplexity Pro, Sonar model, and Comet browser—establishes a comprehensive ecosystem that addresses diverse information needs. Nevertheless, serious obstacles remain on Perplexity's path. Copyright infringement lawsuits from major publishers and allegations about stealth web crawling practices could potentially hamper growth if not addressed effectively. The company's Publishers Program represents a step toward reconciliation, though many content creators still question its adequacy. Looking ahead, Perplexity's strategic partnerships with Snapchat and Airtel will likely accelerate user acquisition across both younger demographics and international markets. Their planned enhancements—including personalization, offline functionality, and expanded language support—should further strengthen their competitive position. We stand at a pivotal moment in search technology history. Though Google remains the dominant force, Perplexity AI exemplifies how artificial intelligence can fundamentally reimagine information retrieval. The ultimate question remains whether this AI-powered approach will eventually supplant traditional search methods or simply carve out a specialized niche. Regardless, Perplexity's impressive milestone of 10 million daily users signals that the search revolution has unmistakably begun.

Key Takeaways

Perplexity AI's explosive growth from 3,000 daily queries in 2022 to 10 million daily users showcases how AI-powered search is rapidly disrupting Google's dominance in the search market. • Perplexity AI reached 10M daily users with 780M monthly queries, demonstrating massive adoption of conversational search over traditional link-based results. • The platform challenges Google by providing direct answers with citations, eliminating the need to click through multiple websites for information. • Legal battles with major publishers over copyright infringement pose significant risks to Perplexity's growth and business model sustainability. • Strategic partnerships with Snapchat and Airtel expand reach to 750M+ social media users and 500M+ telecom customers globally. • Enterprise adoption and product expansion through Perplexity Pro, Sonar model, and Comet browser create a comprehensive AI search ecosystem. This represents the most serious challenge to Google's search monopoly in decades, as users increasingly prefer immediate, comprehensive answers over traditional search results. However, resolving copyright disputes will be crucial for Perplexity's continued growth and legitimacy in the market.

FAQs

Q1. How does Perplexity AI differ from traditional search engines like Google?Perplexity AI provides direct, conversational answers with citations, eliminating the need to click through multiple websites. It offers a more streamlined search experience compared to Google's list of links, catering to users who prefer immediate, comprehensive information.Q2. What are the key features of Perplexity AI's premium subscription service?Perplexity Pro offers enhanced capabilities including 10x more citations per answer, unlimited file uploads, extended access to Research features, and image generation. Subscribers can also use advanced AI models and conduct hundreds of Pro Searches daily.Q3. How has Perplexity AI's user base grown since its launch?Perplexity AI has experienced remarkable growth, expanding from 3,000 queries on its first day in 2022 to serving over 10 million daily active users globally in 2025. It now processes approximately 30 million queries daily, showcasing a 10,000-fold increase in just three years.Q4. What legal challenges does Perplexity AI currently face?Perplexity AI is facing copyright infringement lawsuits from major publishers who claim the platform copies their content without permission or compensation. Additionally, there are allegations of using "stealth crawling behavior" to evade website blocks, which has led to conflicts with internet infrastructure providers.Q5. What future developments can users expect from Perplexity AI?Perplexity AI plans to introduce personalized search experiences, offline mode functionality, and support for multiple languages. The company is also expanding into multimodal AI capabilities, allowing users to process and receive responses to images, audio, and video inputs in addition to text.

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