Perplexity introduces advertising: “sponsored questions” in search results | Generative ai models | Microsoft artificial intelligence name | Generative ai use cases in healthcare | Turtles AI
Perplexity, the search engine based on AI, has announced the introduction of advertising on its platform, starting experimentation in the United States. The announcements will be presented in the form of "sponsored questions" without compromising the objectivity of the answers, with the aim of generating revenue. The move follows a growing pressure to monetize, despite the disputes relating to plagiarus and editorial practices.
Key points:
- Perplexity will introduce advertising as "sponsored follow-up questions" next to the answers generated by AI.
- The announcements will be distinguished as "sponsored" and will not influence the responses provided by the AI.
- The search engine allies with brands such as Indeed, Whole Foods and Universal McCann for the new advertising program.
- Perplexity is under pressure to diversify its own sources of profit, given that the only premium subscription option is not enough to support the economic model.
Perplexity, one of the emerging platforms in the field of research based on AI, has announced that from this week it will begin to experiment with advertising within the search results. This novelty marks a significant change in its economic approach, aimed at strengthening the company’s flow of revenue. The advertising will be introduced in the form of "sponsored questions", that is, questions that will appear next to the answers provided by AI and which will be clearly labeled as "sponsored". According to the same company, the chosen format has the aim of integrating advertising in a discreet and non -invasive way, keeping the quality and reliability of the responses unchanged, which will be generated exclusively by artificial intelligence and not influenced by brands that sponsor The contents. The choice of these sponsorships follows a philosophy that pursues the objective of preserving the impartiality of the responses, despite the introduction of the new advertising element.
Perplexity’s decision to take this advertising path arrives in an important moment for the company, which is trying to diversify its sources of profit. To date, the only certain entry for the company derived from its Premium subscription service, Perplexity Pro, which offers additional paid features for users, at a cost of 20 dollars per month. However, the company has recognized that this model alone is not enough to guarantee sustainable growth in the long run, especially considering the need to attract investments to finance its development. Advertising, therefore, is seen as a solution to guarantee a more stable and scalable flow of revenue. Among the first commercial partners who have joined this initiative, there are well -known names such as Indeed, Whole Foods, Universal McCann and PMG, who will contribute with their advertising campaigns.
However, the introduction of advertising is not without criticism and concerns. Starting from the editorial sector, some newspapers have accused perplexity of exploiting their content without adequate recognition, faithfully replicating articles and responses in violation of copyright. In particular, Dow Jones, New York Post and the New York Times have taken legal actions against the company, accusing it of "plagiarism" or "content cleptocracy" practices. Perplexity reacted to these accusations, claiming to have improved its own quotation technology of the sources and to have started initiatives to expand the revenue sharing program with publishers. Despite the efforts, the pressure on the publishers has not faded, with many who continue to believe that the platform unduly exploits the content of third parties.
From a technical point of view, Perplexity has chosen to adopt an advertising format that integrates without altering the quality of the answers, an aspect that represents one of the main concerns when it comes to ads in the context of research based on AI. Unlike other competitors such as Openii, who has chosen not to introduce advertising in its chatgpt search engine, Perplexity is aiming for a more direct monetization, even if not without challenges. In the past, Microsoft briefly experienced advertising within the responses provided by its chatbot Bing, but has withdrawn this function after a test period, demonstrating how complex the integration of advertising in AI systems is.
Perplexity is trying to adapt to the dynamic online research market, with the aim of finding a balance between the usefulness for the user and the need to generate revenue. The response of the public and advertisers, as well as the evolution of his editorial practices, will be decisive for the future of this innovative platform.