How AI will answer questions we haven't thought to ask | Aravind Srinivas
Feb 13, 2025
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Aravind Srinivas, Co-founder and CEO of Perplexity, discusses how AI can revolutionize our quest for knowledge. He explores the intersection of curiosity and technology, emphasizing AI's role in inspiring intellectual growth. Srinivas envisions a future where an AI-driven search engine transforms how we ask questions, democratizing access to information for everyone. He highlights a Slack bot designed to make reliable knowledge accessible, showcasing AI's potential to enhance learning and foster continuous inquiry.
AI is revolutionizing knowledge access by enabling individuals to engage in deeper inquiry, thereby enhancing intellectual growth and creativity.
The influx of PhD academics into technology startups signifies a resurgence of academia's role in the tech industry, emphasizing the importance of curiosity in innovation.
Deep dives
The Role of Curiosity in the AI Revolution
The current AI revolution enhances human curiosity and questioning, fundamentally transforming how knowledge is accessed and understood. The speaker observes a notable trend of academics, particularly those holding PhDs, entering technology startups, marking a shift from previous decades where the formation of startups by PhDs significantly declined. This intriguing juxtaposition raises questions about the changing landscape of technology and the resurgence of academia's influence in the tech industry. It suggests that curiosity, once solely an academic pursuit, is now vital in driving innovations that can impact a broader audience.
AI as the Future of Search Technology
The evolution of search technology, particularly the transition toward AI-driven solutions, signifies a major shift in how information is retrieved and utilized. The speaker draws attention to Larry Page's early insights into AI and its potential, emphasizing that the future of search is closely tied to artificial intelligence capabilities. Perplexity, a search engine that combines AI with reliable sourcing, illustrates this shift by providing users with trustworthy, well-cited information tailored to their inquiries. This new approach empowers individuals to ask more precise questions, thereby fostering deeper exploration and understanding across various subjects.
Empowering Global Access to Knowledge
AI is creating unprecedented opportunities for global access to information, transcending socio-economic barriers that once dictated who could access quality answers. Historically, obtaining reliable information often required significant resources and connections, but advancements in AI are democratizing access to knowledge for everyone, irrespective of their background. This transformation enables individuals from varying walks of life to engage with and benefit from the same information, enhancing their ability to ask informed questions. As AI continues to evolve, the marginal cost of research approaches zero, paving the way for a future where human curiosity drives continuous learning and shared understanding.
Human potential will only accelerate with AI answering questions better and faster than ever before, says Aravind Srinivas, cofounder and CEO of conversational search engine Perplexity. He examines the trends driving new AI-powered tools that nourish curiosity and creativity — and how they might usher in a new era of intellectual growth and discovery. "Knowledge does not really care about who you are, where you're from or who you have access to. Rather, what matters is the next question you're going to ask," says Srinivas.