Perplexity introduces a more expensive subscription, following in the footsteps of its competitors.
AI search engine Perplexity AI follows the example of OpenAI and Google with a new premium subscription priced at $200 per month. The “Max” plan is “the most powerful yet” and targets demanding users, providing access to experimental tools such as Labs, for generating reports and spreadsheets, and soon also its own AI browser Comet.
Besides priority for search queries, the subscription offers access to the latest AI models from OpenAI and Anthropic. An Enterprise version is also coming, though it’s still unclear when.
Profits Remain Elusive
Perplexity isn’t the only one introducing more expensive subscriptions. These pricier subscriptions prove necessary to generate profit. The costs of running AI models remain enormous. According to sources, Perplexity generates an annual revenue of $80 million, but pays around $65 million monthly for server costs and API usage.
The startup, which doesn’t develop its own models and depends on competitors like OpenAI, must quickly find a profitable formula. Additionally, it faces pressure from companies like Google, which are accelerating the rollout of their own AI search functions.
SiliconANGLE reports that Perplexity is preparing a new capital injection of $500 million, but this hasn’t been officially confirmed. Investors will question how sustainable the current model really is.