Perplexity AI Expands Publisher Program Amid Industry Controversy
Major Publishers Join AI Search Engine’s Revenue-Sharing Initiative
Perplexity, the AI-powered search engine, has significantly expanded its publisher program with notable new participants including:
- LA Times
- Adweek
- Mexico News Daily
- Pris Media (Spanish-language)
- Lee Enterprises
- The Independent
- Blavity
- NewsPicks
- Minkabu the Infonoid
- Gear Patrol
- MediaLab
- DPReview
- World History Encyclopedia
- RTL Germany brands NTV and Stern
Participating publishers will receive:
- Revenue share from Perplexity’s ad earnings
- Performance metrics for their content
- Continued inclusion contingent on not withdrawing
“News organizations are essential for providing factual, valuable answers,” said Jessica Chan, Perplexity’s Head of Publisher Partnerships. “We’re thrilled to welcome these respected publishers to our program.”
Internal Publisher Concerns Surface
While the expansion marks progress for Perplexity, internal sources reveal communication gaps at participating publishers:
- LA Times: Reporters allegedly unaware of deal details
- Adweek: Staff reportedly not consulted about partnership
- Industry Reaction: Mixed awareness about Perplexity’s platform
”[Everyone’s] perplexed,” an LA Times source commented. “There’s simply not enough information to form strong opinions yet.”
Notable Absences and Legal Challenges
Several major publishers remain outside the program:
- The New York Times (issued cease-and-desist in October)
- Dow Jones (Wall Street Journal parent, currently suing Perplexity)
- NY Post (part of ongoing lawsuit)
The lawsuits allege Perplexity operates a “content kleptocracy,” with publishers claiming unauthorized use of their material.
Ongoing Industry Controversies
Perplexity faces multiple challenges regarding content usage:
Accuracy Concerns:
- Wired reported instances of inaccurate paraphrasing
- Reddit users note citation errors in summaries
Paywall Issues:
- Copyleaks found Perplexity summarizing paywalled content
- Forbes previously accused the company of plagiarism
Transparency Questions:
- Program terms remain confidential
- Earlier reports suggested “double-digit” revenue shares
Competitive Landscape Intensifies
As OpenAI launches ChatGPT Search with publisher partnerships, key differences emerge:
| Feature | Perplexity | OpenAI |
|---|---|---|
| Content Control | Limited | Publisher-managed |
| Revenue Sharing | Confidential | Transparent |
| Partner Examples | LA Times, Adweek | The Atlantic, Vox |
Business Growth Amid Challenges
Despite controversies, Perplexity shows strong usage growth:
- Daily Queries: 20 million (up from 2.5 million in January)
- Valuation: Potential $9 billion in current funding round
- Revenue: $50 million ARR (as of October)
CEO Aravind Srinivas remains optimistic, recently highlighting the platform’s expanding user base. However, the company faces pressure to:
- Improve publisher relations
- Enhance content accuracy
- Develop transparent partnership terms
As the AI search landscape evolves, Perplexity’s ability to balance innovation with publisher partnerships will be crucial to its long-term success.
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