Generative AI search engine Perplexity, which claims to be a Google competitor and lately snagged a $73.6 million Sequence B funding from traders like Jeff Bezos, goes to start out promoting advertisements, the corporate instructed ADWEEK.

Perplexity makes use of AI to reply customers’ questions, based mostly on internet sources. It incorporates movies and pictures within the response and even information from companions like Yelp. Perplexity additionally hyperlinks sources within the response whereas suggesting associated questions customers may need to ask.

These associated questions, which account for 40% of Perplexity’s queries, are the place the corporate will begin introducing native advertisements, by letting manufacturers affect these questions, stated firm chief enterprise officer Dmitry Shevelenko. 

When a person delves deeper into a subject, the AI search engine may supply natural and brand-sponsored questions.

Perplexity will launch this within the upcoming quarters, however Shevelenko declined to reveal extra specifics.

Whereas Perplexity touts on its web site that search must be “free from the affect of advertising-driven fashions,” promoting was at all times within the playing cards for the corporate.

“Promoting was at all times a part of how we’re going to construct an amazing enterprise,” stated Shevelenko. 

The year-old search engine was based by AI researchers from Meta and OpenAI, and is powered by each OpenAI’s GPT mannequin and its proprietary AI mannequin. It at present costs a $20 month-to-month subscription charge.

Perplexity can have loads to show

Advertisers assume the native items are a wise format for Perplexity’s AI search engine.

“It’s an advert format that doesn’t disrupt the core move of the platform,” stated Jeremy Hull, chief product officer of Brainlabs. 

However Perplexity additionally can have loads to show. Its success will hinge on its scale, model security plans, entry to viewers insights and focusing on effectiveness.

Perplexity should get sufficient customers for entrepreneurs to have an interest, stated Matt Larson, vp of media and connection technique at Collective Measures.

The AI search engine claims it had over 10 million month-to-month lively customers in January.