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Business, Spoken

Perplexity's Founder Was Inspired by Sundar Pichai. Now They’re Competing to Reinvent Search

Mar 22, 2024
A tale of rivalry and inspiration unfolds as Perplexity AI's founder vies with Sundar Pichai in the search tech arena. From childhood admiration in Chennai to AI startup creation, the competitive landscape and challenges of generative search technology are explored. Revenue models shift from subscriptions to ad integration, emphasizing precise targeting and user trust in the evolving search app development.
10:09

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Sundar Pichai's mentorship inspired R.A.V.N.S. Shrinivas to start Perplexity, highlighting the impact of shared backgrounds on entrepreneurial paths.
  • Perplexity's unique AI search engine focuses on conversation threads and text-based answers, challenging traditional search engines for user engagement.

Deep dives

Influence of Sundar Pichai on Perplexity's Founder

Perplexity's founder, R.A.V.N.S.S. Shrinivas, was inspired by Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who influenced him to start eating eggs despite his vegetarian upbringing in India. This influence extended beyond dietary choices as Shrinivas credits Pichai with providing the freedom that led to his interest in AI search startups. R.A.V.N.S. Shrinivas and Sundar Pichai both hail from Chennai, India, leading to a mixture of admiration and competition between the two individuals. Shrinivas' journey in the tech world, influenced by Pichai, highlights the impact of mentorship and shared backgrounds in shaping entrepreneurial paths.

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