Perplexity AI Introduces Revenue-Sharing Model for Publishers
Perplexity AI, a San Francisco-based startup competing with Google in the AI search engine space, has launched a groundbreaking revenue-sharing program to address concerns from publishers about unauthorized content use.
The company has allocated $42.5 million to compensate media outlets when their content is utilized in Perplexity’s Comet browser, appears in search queries, or is accessed by its AI assistant for task completion.
This initiative, led by CEO Aravind Srinivas, aims to create a sustainable model for publishers in the AI era, moving away from traditional reliance on web traffic and clicks.
The program introduces Comet Plus, a $5-per-month subscription tier offering curated content, with 80% of the revenue distributed to participating publishers and Perplexity retaining 20%.
This model, inspired by Apple News+, marks Perplexity as one of the first AI companies to tie compensation directly to content usage frequency, unlike the bespoke licensing deals offered by competitors like OpenAI and Google.
Publishers such as Time, The Los Angeles Times, and Fortune, who previously partnered with Perplexity on ad revenue sharing, are among those in discussions to join.
The initiative responds to legal challenges from media giants like Forbes, Condé Nast, and News Corp’s Dow Jones and New York Post, who have accused Perplexity of copyright infringement and unethical web scraping.
Despite losing a bid to dismiss a lawsuit from Dow Jones and the New York Post, Perplexity remains confident in resolving these disputes, emphasizing that its AI assistant accesses specific websites only at user request, not through mass web crawling. The company also faces scrutiny from Cloudflare for allegedly bypassing website protections.
This revenue-sharing model could reshape the relationship between AI platforms and publishers, ensuring content creators are fairly compensated while enhancing the credibility of AI-generated responses.
For users, Comet Plus offers access to premium content, potentially improving the quality of search results. For businesses, particularly publishers, the program promises a new revenue stream, though its success depends on widespread adoption and the resolution of ongoing legal battles.
FAQ
How does Perplexity’s revenue-sharing program work?
Publishers earn revenue when their content is accessed via Perplexity’s Comet browser, cited in search queries, or used by its AI assistant. The funds come from the $5/month Comet Plus subscription, with 80% going to publishers.
Which publishers are involved in Perplexity’s program?
While specific participants in the Comet Plus program are undisclosed, Perplexity has previously partnered with Time, The Los Angeles Times, and Fortune for ad revenue sharing.
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