Perplexity reports 100 million weekly search queries as it expands ecommerce features

Perplexity, an AI-powered search engine, now handles 100 million queries weekly, a significant increase from 250 million in July. This translates to about 400 million queries monthly. The company is introducing ecommerce features for its Pro subscribers, allowing one-click purchases. It is also exploring a new advertising model and is in discussions with brands like Nike and Marriott. Perplexity faces legal challenges from publishers, including lawsuits from News Corp and The New York Times, over content usage. The company is reportedly seeking to raise $500 million at an $8 billion valuation.