Perplexity Drops Ads From AI Search Platform, Warns Advertising Erodes User Trust
Summary
Perplexity is dropping ads from its AI search platform, warning that advertising erodes user trust by making people 'doubt everything,' as the company pivots to paid subscriptions targeting high-value professionals like lawyers, doctors, and CEOs — drawing a sharp contrast with OpenAI's pro-advertising stance.
Key Points
- Perplexity is phasing out ads from its AI search platform, with executives warning that advertising could cause users to 'doubt everything,' undermining trust in AI-generated answers.
- The company is shifting its revenue focus toward paid subscriptions targeting business customers and high-value professionals such as lawyers, doctors, finance experts, and CEOs rather than relying on ad revenue.
- The move highlights a growing divide in the AI industry over monetization, with OpenAI leaning into advertising while companies like Perplexity and Anthropic position themselves against ads to maintain user trust.