SoftBank to Invest $20M in Perplexity AI. Japanese technology investor SoftBank Group Corp Vision Fund 2 is set to invest between $10 million and $20 million in U.S. search startup Perplexity AI, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday. This investment is part of a larger $250 million funding round, boosting Perplexity AI’s valuation to an impressive $3 billion.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the deal has not yet been finalized and terms may still change. Neither SoftBank nor Perplexity AI have responded to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Perplexity AI, based in San Francisco, offers advanced search tools that provide users with instant answers to questions, complete with sources and citations. The platform leverages a variety of large language models, including OpenAI and Meta’s open-source model Llama, to generate and summarize information effectively.
Earlier this year, Perplexity AI raised $73.6 million from investors, including Nvidia and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, at a valuation of $520 million. In 2023, the company reported serving more than 500 million queries while spending minimal amounts on marketing. SoftBank to Invest $20M in Perplexity AI.
SoftBank’s potential investment in Perplexity AI underscores the growing interest in artificial intelligence and advanced search technologies. As the startup continues to innovate and expand its capabilities, this latest funding round could significantly enhance its market presence and technological development.
