Perplexity AI: Redefining Search with Aravind Srinivas
In this episode of the Lex Fridman Podcast, Lex Fridman interviews Aravind Srinivas, the CEO of Perplexity, a company revolutionizing how humans find answers to questions on the internet. Perplexity combines search and large language models (LLMs) to produce answers backed by citations from human-created sources, significantly reducing LLM hallucinations.
Aravind explains that Perplexity functions as an answer engine rather than a traditional search engine, focusing on providing direct answers with citations, similar to how an academic paper references sources. The conversation delves into the technical details of how Perplexity works, including retrieval augmented generation (RAG), indexing, and the role of LLMs in synthesizing information.
The discussion also covers the business model differences between Perplexity and Google, emphasizing that Perplexity does not rely on ads but rather on subscription revenue. Aravind highlights the importance of creating a product that users trust and that delivers accurate and reliable answers without compromising the user experience.
Lex and Aravind explore the future of AI, search, and knowledge discovery, discussing the potential for AI to provide deeper insights and understanding. They touch on the importance of curiosity and knowledge in driving human progress and the role of AI in enhancing these aspects.
Aravind shares insights from other influential entrepreneurs like Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Jensen Huang, and how their approaches have inspired him. He also discusses the challenges and rewards of being a startup founder, emphasizing the importance of passion, grit, and a supportive network.
The episode concludes with a discussion on the potential for AI to achieve AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) and the ethical considerations surrounding its development. Aravind expresses optimism about the future, envisioning a world where AI helps humans become more knowledgeable, curious, and truth-seeking.