Perplexity Hits 780M Queries, Eyes Billion Weekly
Explosive Growth for AI-Powered Search
Perplexity.ai processed a staggering 780 million queries in May 2024, according to CEO Aravind Srinivas during his appearance at the Bloomberg Tech Summit. The AI search engine is demonstrating remarkable momentum with over 20% month-over-month growth – a trajectory that could see it hitting one billion weekly queries within a year.
From Startup to Silicon Valley Standout
“Back in 2022 on our first day, we handled just 3,000 queries,” Srinivas revealed. “Today we’re processing 30 million daily queries, which shows the incredible demand for AI-powered search.” This represents nearly a 10,000x increase in just two years.
Comet Browser: The Game-Changing Vision
The company attributes much of its projected growth to its forthcoming Comet browser, currently in development. Unlike traditional browsers, Comet aims to:
- Transform AI from answer-provider to action-taker
- Combine client and server computing seamlessly
- Track user activity across the web for hyper-personalization
Beyond Browsing: A Cognitive OS
Srinivas describes Comet not as “just another browser” but as a revolutionary “cognitive operating system” that fundamentally rethinks internet interaction. “People don’t just browse anymore – they live on the internet,” he explained. “Our AI needs to exist alongside users, anticipating needs before they arise.”
The Advertising Angle
The browser’s development has another strategic purpose: enabling premium ad targeting. By monitoring activity beyond Perplexity’s own platform, the company aims to build an advertising model similar to Google’s – tracking searches, new tab behaviors, and sidecar interactions to deliver highly relevant ads.
While an exact launch timeline remains undisclosed, Srinivas confirmed Comet should debut within weeks. With its dual focus on AI-powered search innovation and browser-based engagement, Perplexity appears poised to challenge internet giants at their own game.